STANDARD   LITERATURE   SERIES 

TALES  OF 

THE  ALHAMBRA 


BY 

WASHINGTON   IRVING 


SELECTED   FOR  USE   IN  SCHOOLS.     WITH  AN 
INTRODUCTION    AND    EXPLANATORY    NOTES 


i 

"'    •    ' 


•  : 

.—,,::    v^'iti^jjj 


NEW  YORK  AND  NEW  ORLEANS 

UNIVERSITY  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 
1901 


COPYRIGHT,  1896,  BY 
UNIVERSITY  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


***  2414 


Press  of  J.  J.  T.ittle  &  Co. 
Astor  Place,  New  York 


HISTORY    OF    SPAIN   TO    THE    FALL   OF 
GRANADA. 


10    Longitude 


SeAnT^e&S?  *  '  6 


8CALC  OF  MILES 

a 


ALMOST  nothing  is  known  of  the  early  history  of  the  great  peninsula 
which  forms  the  southwestern  extremity  of  Europe.  The  Greeks  called  it 
Iberia,  but  they  had  little  real  knowledge  of  the  country.  To  them  it 
was  the  end  of  the  world,  the  land  of  the  setting  sun,  and  many  wonder 
ful  stories  and  myths  were  connected  with  it.  One  of  these  myths  was 
that  Hercules  had  hollowed  out  the  strait  that  connects  the  Mediterranean 
with  the  Atlantic,  and  hence  the  bold,  rocky  cliffs  that  rise  on  either 
side  of  the  narrow  strait  were  called  the  Pillars  of  Hercules. 

Phoenician  merchants  and  traders  certainly  visited  the  peninsula  in 
early  times,  and  made  settlements  along  the  coasts.  As  the  years  passed, 
it  gradually  came  more  and  more  under  Carthaginian  influence,  and 


228071 


HISPANIA, 


about  two  hundred  and  thirty-seven  years  before  Christ,  a  Carthaginian 
army  under  Hamilcar  Barca  occupied  the  southern  part  of  the  country, 
some  of  the  tribes  submitting  quietly,  others  being  conquered.  His  son 
Hannibal,  who  had  married  a  Spanish  woman,  extended  the  Carthaginian 
power  to  the  Pyrenees  Mountains  in  the  north,  and,  in  218  B.C.,  led  his 
army  from  this  peninsula  over  the  mountains  to  Italy. 

Their  wars  with  Carthage  had  first  brought  the  attention  of  the  Ro 
mans  to  the  peninsula,  which  they  called  Hispania,  a  name  since  contracted 
by  the  Spaniards  into  Espana,  and  by  the  English  into  Spain.  While 
Hannibal  was  still  in  Italy,  the  Romans  invaded  Hispania,  defeated  the 
Carthaginians,  and  conquered  the  southern  portion  of  the  peninsula,  thus 
cutting  off  Hannibal's  supplies  and  reinforcements.  After  the  power  of 
Carthage  was  crushed,  the  Romans  retained  their  conquests  in  Hispania, 
and  our  first  accurate  knowledge  of  the  country  comes  from  them.  They 
found  it  occupied  by  many  different  tribes  more  civilized  than  the  Gauls, 
and  so  brave  that  more  than  two  hundred  years  passed  before  the  entire 
peninsula  was  finally  subjugated  by  the  Emperor  Augustus  Caesar.  The 
country  then  became  entirely  Roman.  The  natives  acquired  the  Latin 
language  and  the  Latin  civilization.  For  more  than  four  hundred  years 
the  country  remained  a  part  of  the  Roman  Empire,  and  became  famous  in 
literature,  arts,  and  science.  Trajan  the  emperor,  and  Quintilian,  Sen 
eca,  and  Martial,  the  most  distinguished  Latin  authors  of  the  silver  age, 
were  Spaniards.  The  Castilian  Spanish  of  to-day  very  closely  resembles 
the  old  Latin  language.  As  a  part  of  the  Roman  Empire,  Spain  embraced 
Christianity,  and  the  Spanish  bishops  were  leaders  in  the  Roman  Church. 

With  the  decline  of  the  Western  Roman  Empire  (A.D.  409),  Spain 
was  overrun  by  the  Vandals  and  other  German  tribes,  the  Spaniards 
offering  very  little  resistance  to  the  invaders.  Four  or  five  years  later 
the  Visigoths  (Western  Goths)  occupied  the  country,  and  in  time  expelled 
the  Vandals,  and  in  A.D.  573  established  a  Visigothic  Empire.  The 
Visigoths  ruled  Spain  until  the  death  of  Roderick,  the  last  Visigothic 
king,  A.D.  711. 

^  Across  the  Mediterranean,  in  Northern  Africa,  lay  the  Roman  province 
of  Mauritania,  inhabited  by  a  dark-skinned  people  whom  the  Romans 
called  Mauri,  from  which  our  word  Moor  is  derived.  The  Mauri  were 
converted  to  Christianity  with  the  rest  of  the  Roman  Empire.  They 
called  themselves  Berbers.  After  the  rise  of  Mohammedanism,  Mauri 
tania  was  overrun  and  conquered  by  the  Arabs,  or  Saracens,  and  the 
Moors  all  embraced  the  Mohammedan  faith.  In  A.D.  7.11,  a  mixed 
army,  made  up  of  Arabs,  Moors,  Egyptians,  and  Syrians,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Tarik,  an  Arab,  crossed  the  narrow  strait  to  the  Spanish  side. 


THE   ARABS   CONQUER   SPAIN.  5 

They  called  the  rock  on  which  they  landed  Gebel  el  Tarik  (meaning 
Rock  of  Tarik),  which  has  been  shortened  into  Gribralter,  the  name  it 
bears  to-day.  The  strait  has  taken  its  name  from  the  rock. 

The  country  fell  an  easy  prey.  By  the  year  714  the  Arabs  had  con 
quered  the  whole  of  Spain,  which  now  became  a  part  of  the  Moslem 
Empire,  governed  by  the  Caliphs  of  Damascus.  The  ruling  Caliph  of 
Damascus  was  overthrown,  and  all  the  members  of  his  family  poisoned 
except  Abdurrahman,  who  in  767  escaped  to  Spain  on  the  invitation  of 
the  Arab  governors,  and  established  the  Caliphate  of  Cordova.  This 
embraced  all  of  Spain,  except  Asturias,  and  was  independent  of  the 
Caliphs  of  Bagdad.  It  was  governed  by  Abdurrahman's  successor  for 
two  hundred  and  fifty  years.  The  Moors  during  all  this  time  were  sub 
ordinate.  The  reigning  family  and  all  the  officers  were  Arabs. 
=?«..  The  conquest  of  Spain  by  the  Arabs  was  at  first  simply  a  change  of 
rulers,  not  of  population.  The  masses  of  the  people  were  not  disturbed 
in  their  property  or  in  their  business.  They  paid  taxes  which  supported 
the  Arab  rulers  and  the  army  of  Arabs  and  Moors.  All  religions  were 
tolerated.  The  Arabs  were  an  intellectual  race,  and  by  association 
acquired  the  culture  and  civilization  of  the  people  whom  they  had  con 
quered  and  with  whom  they  lived.  For  two  hundred  and  fifty  years 
Spain  under  Arab  rulers  surpassed  every  other  European  nation  in 
architecture,  literature,  science,  manufactures,  and  agriculture. 

The  Christian  princes  had  been  driven  into  the  mountains  of  Northern 
Spain.  One  of  these  princes  established  the  petty  kingdom  of  Asturias 
in  the  mountains  of  the  north,  seven  years  after  the  landing  of  the  Arabs. 
His  successors  drove  the  Arabs  from  Galicia  and  from  Leon,  and  in  the 
tenth  century  became  kings  of  Leon.  Later  on,  Navarre,  Aragon,  Castile, 
and  Portugal,  successively  threw  off  the  Arab  control.  Each  became  an 
independent  kingdom,  at  first  very  small,  but  gradually  pushing  its 
boundaries  southward.  In  997,  Almansor,  the  chief  minister  of  the 
Arab  ruler,  regained  most  of  the  lost  ground,  but  it  was  lost  again  in  a 
great  battle  in  1002,  after  which  Arab  rule  never  extended  north  of  the 
river  Tagtis.  A  few  years  later  the  Arab  empire  in  Spain  was  broken  up 
into  a  number  of  independent  principalities,  under  Emirs  (commanders). 

In  1085  Alfonso  VI.  of  Leon  and  Castile  captured  the  city  of  Toledo, 
and  was  pushing  still  farther  south.  The  Emir  of  Seville  sought  the 
help  of  the  Moors  of  Northern  Africa.  Vnsuf  of  Morocco,  although  then 
eighty  years  of  age,  promptly  responded,  and  in  1086  came  with  his 
Moors  to  the  assistance  of  the  Emir.  In  October  of  the  same  year  he 
defeated  the  combined  forces  of  Castile,  Aragon,  and  Barcelona,  but  was 
recalled  to  Africa.  He  returned  four  years  later.  Instead  of  fighting 


6  THE   MOORS   IN    SPAIN. 

the  Christians,  however,  he  turned  against  the  Arab  Emirs,  and  united 
all  their  possessions  in  an  empire  which  covered  practically  the  southern 
half  of  the  peninsula.  For  the  first  time,  the  Moorish  element  in  the 
population  became  dominant.  In  1118,  Alfonso  VII.  of  Castile  captured 
Saragossa,  and  Alfonso  VIII.  extended  the  borders  of  Castile  to  the  Sierra 
Morena  Mountains.  In  1146,  Abd  al  mii'min,  leader  of  a  new  religious 
sect,  united  the  Slavs  (or  slaves)  and  the  Moors  in  an  insurrection  against 
the  grandson  of  Yusuf,  and  established  himself  as  sovereign.  His  suc 
cessor  defeated  the  Christian  kings,  who  were  quarrelling  among  them 
selves,  and  recovered  some  of  the  lost  territory.  Under  the  rule  of  this 
family,  the  Arab  element  disappeared,  and  from  this  time  the  Mohamme 
dans  of  Spain  were  distinctly  Moors. 

In  1336  Cordova,  the  capital,  was  captured  by  Castile,  and  the  next 
year  the  Moorish  Empire  was  again  broken  up  into  independent  districts 
under  Emirs.  The  most  powerful  of  these,  ^Alhamar,  the  builder  of  the 
Alhambra,  Emir  of  Granada,  in  1246  put  himself  under  the  protection 
of  Castile,  and  paid  tribute  to  that  kingdom.  All  the  other  Moorish 
districts  were,  within  the  next  twenty  years,  conquered  by  the  Christian 
kings  of  the  peninsula.  Granada  became  a  place  of  refuge  for  those 
Moors  who  were  driven  out  of  the  other  parts  of  Spain  by  the  persecution 
of  the  Christians  ;  and  the  Moors  in  Granada,  following  the  example  of 
the  Christians,  expelled  all,  except  Mohammedans,  from  their  territory. 
As  a  consequence,  the  population  of  Granada  became  almost  entirely 
Moorish.  This  added  greatly  to  their  strength.  The  mountainous 
character  of  Granada  made  it  easy  to  defend,  and  in  this  country,  with  a 
united  population,  the  Moors  were  enabled  to  hold  their  ground  for  two 
hundred  years  longer. 

The  marriage  of  Ferdinand,  King  of  Aragon  ;md  Navarre,  with 
Isabella,  Queen  of  Leon  and  Castile,  united  the  Christian  armies  of 
Spain,  and  in  1481  these  monarchs  began  the  conquest  of  Granada,  which 
ended  successfully  in  1492. 

The  Moors  rebelled  in  1500,  and  after  that  time  only  those  who  em 
braced  Christianity  were  permitted  to  remain  in  Spain.  Though  out 
wardly  Christians,  the  "Moriscos"  were  secretly  Mohammedans.  Fi 
nally,  in  1609,  they  were  all  expelled  from  Spain,  and  that  country  has 
never  recovered  from  the  loss  of  this  large  industrial  element. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES. 

IN  the  annals  of  American  literature  no  name  is  brighter  or  more 
warmly  cherished  than  that  of  Washington  Irving.  He  was  one  of  the 
earliest  and  most  distinguished  of  American  writers.  lie  was  born  in 
New  York  City  in  1783,  just  at  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
was  given  the  name  at  that  time  dearest  to  American  hearts.  He  was 
educated  for  the  legal  profession  ;  but  his  tastes  were  in  the  direction  of 
literature,  and  as  early  as  180:3  his  "Letters  of  Jonathan  Oldstyle  " 
appeared  in  the  Morning  Chronicle. 

Irving's  first  publications  of  note  were  his  contributions  to  Salma 
gundi,  a  semi-monthly  publication  in  imitation  of  the  Spectator,  con 
ducted  by  himself,  his  brother  William,  and  James  K.  Paulding.  His 
sketches  of  Dutch  character  in  his  "Knickerbocker's  History  of  New 
York,"  which  made  its  appearance  in  1809,  proved  him  possessed  of 
quaint  and  genial  humor  to  a  high  degree.  It  was  everywhere  read  and 
admired.  Walter  Scott,  "his  sides  sore  from  laughing,"  praised  it 
warmly.  The  "Sketch-Book"  was  completed  in  1820.  It  was  received 
in  the  United  States  with  universal  delight,  and  with  most  cordial  favor 
in  England.  It  has  a  peculiar  charm  for  its  delicate  touch  and  purity  of 
style.  It  was  the  first  production  in  the  United  States  of  a  work  of  the 
highest  literary  excellence,  and  won  for  Irving  a  name  as  one  of  the  chief 
founders  of  American  literature.  The  "short  story,"  now  so  popular, 
recognizes  him  as  its  first  great  master.  The  Royal  Society  of  Literature 
bestowed  on  him  one  of  the  two  fifty-guinea  gold  medals  awarded  an 
nually,  and  the  University  of  Oxford  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  LL.D. 

"Geoffrey  Crayon,  Gent.,"  "  Bracebridge  Hall  "  (1822),  and  "  Tales  of 
a  Traveller"  (1824)  followed. I  In  1826  he  went  to  Spain  and  began  the 
long  and  arduous  studies  which  were  the  foundation  of  his  more  impor 
tant  serious  works:  "The  Life  and  Voyages  of  Columbus"  (18~8), 
"  Conquest  of  Granada  "  (1829),  "  Voyages  of  the  Companions  of  Colum 
bus"  (1831),  "The  Alhambra"  (1832),  "Legends  of. the  Conquest  of 
Spain"  (1835),  "  Mahomet  and  His  Successors  "  (1850).  f  For  nearly  three 
months  he  lived  at  Granada,  in  the  old  Moorish  palace,  the  Alhambra, 
while  gathering  material  for  the  work  which  bears  that  name. 

In  1842  he  was  appointed  United  States  Minister  to  Spain.  He  re 
turned  to  New  York  in  1846,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  at  his 
residence,  Sunnyside,  near  Tarry  town,  on  the  Hudson,  where  he  died 


8  BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTES. 

November  28,  1859.  His  last  work  was  the  "  Life  of  George  Washing 
ton  "(5  vols.,  1855-1859). 

America  has  produced  no  writer  of  higher  literary  fame  than  Irving. 
"  Diedrich  Knickerbocker,"  "  Sleepy  Hollow,"  "  Rip  Van  Winkle,"  "Ich- 
abod  Crane,"  have  become  most  familiar  names.  Sentiment  and  abun 
dant  humor  characterize  his  writings,  and  he  had  the  power  to  seize  the 
attention  of  cultivated  readers  by  his  keen  observation,  his  graphic 
touches  of  description,  and  his  clear  and  musical  style. 

As  a  man,  Irving  was — to  quote  from  Thackeray's  graceful  tribute  to 
his  character — "  in  his  family  gentle,  generous,  good-humored,  affection 
ate,  self-denying  ;  in  society  a  delightful  example  of  complete  gentle- 
manhood  ;  quite  unspoiled  by  prosperity  ;  never  obsequious  to  the  great, 
or,  worse  still,  to  the  base  and  mean,  as  some  public  men  are  forced  to 
be  ;  eager  to  acknowledge  every  contemporary's  merit  ;  always  kind  and 
affable  with  the  young  members  of  his  calling  ;  in  his  professional  bar 
gains  and  mercantile  dealings  delicately  honest  and  grateful.  He  was,  at 
the  same  time,  doubly  dear  to  men  of  letters,  not  for  his  wit  and  genius 
merely,  but  as  an  exemplar  of  goodness,  probity,  and  a  pure  life." 


PALACE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.1 


To  the  traveller  imbued 2  with  a  feeling  for  the  historical 
and  poetical,  so  inseparably  intertwined  jn_  jthe^annals 3  of 
romantic  Spain,  the  Alhambra  is  as  much  an  object  of  devo 
tion  as  is  the  Caaba4  to  all  true  Moslems.6  How  many  legends 
and  traditions,  true  and  fabulous;  how  many  songs  and  bal 
lads,  Arabian  and  Spanish,  of  love  and  war  and  chivalry,6  are 
associated  with  this  Oriental  pile!  It  was  the  royal  abode  of 
the  Moorish  kings,  where,  surrounded  with  the  splendors  and 
refinements  of  Asiatic  luxury,  they  held  dominion  over  what 
they  vaunted 7  as  a  terrestrial 8  paradise,  and  made  their  last 
stand  for  empire  in  Spain.  The  rpyal  palace  forms  but  a  part 
of  a  fortress,  the  walls  of  which,  studded  with  towers,  stretch 
irregularly  round  the  whole  crest  of  a  hill,  a  spur  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  or  Snowy  Mountains,  and  overlook  the  city;  exter 
nally  it  is  a  rude  congregation  of  towers  and  battlements,  with 
no  regularity  of  plan  nor  grace  of  architecture,9  and  giving 
little  promise  of  the  grace  and  beauty  which  prevail  within. 

In  the  time  of  the  Moors  the  fortress  was  capable  of  con 
taining  within  its  outward  precincts  an  army  of  forty  thousand 
men,  and  served  occasionally  as  a  stronghold  of  the  sover 
eigns  against  their  rebellious  subjects.  After  the  kingdom  had 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Christians,  the  Alhambra  con- 

1  (ahl-hahm'brah.)     Note   these    leading  as  nifio  (nee' -nyo) ;  e  final  forms  a  separate 

peculiarities  of  pronunciation  of  Spanish  syllable,  as  Calle  (kahl-lay). 
names  :  a,  long  like  a  in  far,  short  like  a        5  filled.  *  histories, 

in  fast ;  e,  long  like  a  in  ale,  short  like  ein        *  (kah-ah'bahj,  the  temple  at  Mecca. 
met  ;  i  long  like  e  in  me,  short  like  i  in  pin  ;         6  followers  of  Mohammed. 
o  as  in  English;  ^  like  oo  ,'(7  before  e  and  ?,         'deeds  of  knights  who  fought  for  the 

and .7  and  x  before  every  vowel,  like  a  gut-  weak  and  the  oppressed.         7  boasted, 
tural  h  ;  n  combines  the  sounds  of  n  and  y,         8  earthly.        •  art  or  science  of  building. 


10  PALACE   OF  THE   ALHAMBRA. 

tinned  to  be  a  royal  demesne,1  and  was  occasionally  inhabited 
by  the  Castilian  monarchs.  The  emperor  Charles  V.  com 
menced  a  sumptuous  palace  within  its  walls,  but  was  deterred  2 
from  completing  it  by  repeated  shocks  of  earthquakes.  The 
last  royal  residents  were  Philip  V.  and  his  beautiful  queen, 
E]izabetta  of  Parma,  early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  Great 
preparations  were  made  for  their  reception.  The  palace  and 
gardens  were  placed  in  a  state  of  repair,  and  a  new  suite 3  of 
apartments  erected,  and  decorated  by  artists  brought  from 
Italy.  The  sojourn  of  the  sovereigns  was  transient,4  and  after 
their  departure  the  palace  once  more  became  desolate.  Still 
the  place  was  maintained  with  some  military  state.  The  gov 
ernor  held  it  immediately  from  the  crown;  its  jurisdiction 
extended  down  into  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  and  was  inde 
pendent  of  the  captain-general  of  Granada. 

The  desertion  of  the  court,  however,  was  a  fatal  blow  to  the 
Alhambra.  Its  beautiful  halls  became  desolate,  and  some  of 
them  fell  to  ruin;  the  gardens  were  destroyed,  and  the  foun 
tains  ceased  to  play.  By  degrees  the  dwellings  became  filled 
with  a  loose  and  lawless  population — contrabandistas,5  who 
availed  themselves  of  its  independent  jurisdiction  6  to  carry  on 
a  wide  and  daring  course  of  smuggling  ;  and  thieves  and 
rogues  of  all  sorts,  who  made  this  their  place  of  refuge  whence 
they  might  depredate 7  upon  Granada  and  its  vicinity.  \  The 
strong  arm  of  government  at  length  interfered;  the  whole 
community  was  thoroughly  sifted;  none  were  suffered  to 
remain  but  such  as  were  of  honest  character,  and  had  legiti 
mate  right  to  a  residence;  the  greater  part  of  the  houses  were 
demolished,8  and  a  mere  hamlet  left,  with  the  parochial9 
church  and  the  Franciscan  convent.  During  the  recent 
troubles  in  Spain,  when  Granada  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
French,  the  Alhambra  was  garrisoned  by  their  troops,  and  the 

1  possession.  *  brief  ;  lasting  only  a  short  time.        7  prey, 

'hindered.  'smugglers.  8  destroyed, 

•connected  set  or  series.         6  legal  authority.  9  parish. 


PALACE   OF  THE   ALHAMBRA.  11 

palace  was  occasionally  inhabited  by  the  French  commander. 
With  that  enlightened  taste  which  has  ever  distinguished  the 
French  nation  in  their  conquests,  this  monument  of  Moorish 
elegance  and  grandeur  was  rescued  from  the  absolute  ruin  and 
desolation  that  were  overwhelming  it.  The  roofs  were  repaired, 
the  saloons  and  galleries  protected  from  the  weather,  the  gar 
dens  cultivated,  the  watercourses  restored,  the  fountains  once 
more  made  to  throw  up  their  sparkling  showers;  and  Spain 
may  thank  her  invaders  for  having  preserved  to  her  the  most 
beautiful  and  interesting  of  her  historical  monuments. 

On  the  departure  of  the  French  they  blew  up  several  towers 
of  the  outer  wall,  and  left  the  fortifications  scarcely  tenable.1 
Since  that  time  the  military  importance  of  the  post  is  at  an 
end.  The  garrison  is  a  handful  of  invalid  soldiers,  whose 
principal  duty  is  to  guard  some  of  the  outer  towers,  which 
serve  occasionally  as  a  prison  of  state;  and  the  governor, 
abandoning  the  lofty  hill  of  the  Alhambra,  resides  in  the 
centre  of  Granada,  for  the  more  convenient  despatch  of  his 
official  duties. 

Our  first  object,  of  course,  on  the  morning  after  our  arrival, 
was  a  visit  to  this  time-honored  edifice. 

Leaving  our  posada,2  and  traversing  the  renowned  square  of 
4he  Vivarrambla,  once  the  scene  of  Moorish  jousts 3  and  tour 
naments/  now  a  crowded  market-place,  we  proceeded  along  the 
Zacatin,  the  main  street  of  what,  in  the  time  of  the  Moors, 
was  the  Great  Bazaar,  and  where  small  shops  and  narrow  alleys 
still  retain  the  Oriental  character.  Crossing  an  open  place  in 
front  of  the  palace  of  the  captain-general,  we  ascended  a  con 
fined  and  winding  street,  the  name  of  which  reminded  us  of 
the  chivalric  days  of  Granada.  It  is  called  the  Calle,  or  street, 
of  the  Gomeres,  from  a  Moorish  family  famous  in  chronicle" 
and  song.  This  street  led  up  to  the  Puerta  de  las  Granadas, 

1  capable  of  being  held.  a  inn.         4  uiock  tight  or  military  sport. 

3  mock  encounters    on   horseback  as  a         *  record,  history, 
trial  of  skill. 


12  PALACE   OF   THE   ALHAMBRA. 

a  massive  gateway  of  Grecian  architecture,  built  by  Charles 
V.,  forming  the  entrance  to  the  domains  of  the  Alhambra. 

'At  the  gate  were  two  or  three  ragged,  superannuated  sol 
diers,  dozing  on  a  stone  bench,  while  a  tall,  meagre  l  varlet,2 
whose  rusty-brown  cloak  was  evidently  intended  to  conceal  the 
ragged  state  of  his  nether  garments,  was  lounging  in  the  sun 
shine  and  gossiping  with  an  ancient  sentinel  on  duty.  He 
joined  us  as  we  entered  the  gate,  and  oifered  his  services  to 
show  us  the  fortress. 

I  have  a  traveller's  dislike  to  officious  ciceroni,3  and  did  not 
altogether  like  the  garb  of  the  applicant. 

"  You  are  well  acquainted  with  the  place,  I  presume  ?  " 

"  Nobody  better;  in  fact,  sir,  I  am  a  son  of  the  Alhambra!  " 

The  common  Spaniards  have  certainly  a  most  poetical  way  of 
expressing  themselves.  ' '  A  son  of  the  Alhambra ! ' '  The  appel 
lation  4  caught  me  at  once ;  the  very  tattered  garb  of  my  new 
acquaintance  assumed  a  dignity  in  my  eyes.  It  was  emblem 
atic  5  of  the  fortunes  of  the  place,  and  befitted  the  progeny  ° 
of  a  ruin. 

I  put  some  further  questions  to  him,  and  found  that  his 
title  was  legitimate.7  His  family  had  lived  in  the  fortress 
from  generation  to  generation  ever  since  the  time  of  the  con 
quest.  His  name  was  Mateo  Ximenes.  "Then,  perhaps," 
said  I,  "you  may  be  a  descendant  from  the  great  Cardinal 
Ximenes?"  "God  knows,  seflor!  It  may  be  so.  We  are 
the  oldest  family  in  the  Alhambra."  There  is  not  any  Span 
iard,  however  poor,  but  has  some  claim  to  high  pedigree/ 
The  first  title  of  this  ragged  worthy,  however,  had  completely 
captivated9  me,  so  I  gladly  accepted  the  services  of  the  "son 
of  the  Alhambra." 

We  now  found  ourselves  in  a  deep,  narrow  ravine,  filled  with 
beautiful  groves,  with  a  steep  avenue  and  various  footpaths 

1  thin,  lean.  2  low  fellow.  6  offspring  ;  descendants. 

1  (chee-cha-ro'nee)  guides  (Italian).  7  in  accordance  with  law. 

4  name.  8  line  of  ancestors  ;  descent. 

6  suggestive  by  similarity.  »  pleased  ;  charmed. 


PALACE   OF   THE   ALHAMBRA.  13 

winding  through  it,  bordered  with  stone  seats,  and  ornamented 
with  fountains.  To  our  left,  we  beheld  the  towers  of  the 
Alhambra  beetling1  above  us;  to  our  right,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  ravine,  we  were  equally  dominated  2  by  rival  towers 
on  a  rocky  eminence.  These,  we  were  told,  were  the  Torres 
Vermejos,  or  vermilion  towers,  so  called  from  their  ruddy  hue. 
No  one  knows  their  origin.  Ascending  the  steep  and  shady 
avenue,  we  arrived  at  the  foot  of  a  huge  square  Moorish  tower, 
forming  a  kind  of  barbican,3  through  which  passed  the  main 
entrance  to  the  fortress.  Within  the  barbican  was  another 
group  of  veteran  invalids,  one  mounting  guard  at  the  portal, 
while  the  rest,  wrapped  in  their  tattered  cloaks,  slept  on  the 
stone  benches.  This  portal  is  called  the  Gate  of  Justice,  from 
the  tribunal  held  within  its  porch  during  the  Moslem  domina 
tion,  for  the  immediate  trial  of  petty  causes — a  custom  com 
mon  to  the  Oriental  nations,  and  occasionally  alluded  to  in  the 
sacred  Scriptures.  "  Judges  and  officers  shalt  thou  make  thee 
in  all  tliy  gates,  and  they  shall  judge  the  people  with  just 
judgment." 

The  great  vestibule,  or  porch,  of  the  gate  is  formed  by  an 
immense  Arabian  arch,  of  the  horseshoe  form,  which  springs  to 
half  the  height  of  the  tower.  On  the  keystone  of  this  arch  is 
engraven  a  gigantic  hand.  Within  the  .vestibule,  on  the  key 
stone  of  the  portal,  is  sculptured  in  like  manner  a  gigantic 
key.  Those  who  pretend  to  some  knowledge  of  Mohammedan 
symbols,  affirm  that  the  hand  is  the  emblem  of  doctrine;  the 
five  fingers  designating  the  five  principal  commandments  of 
the  creed  of  Islam — fasting',  pilgrimage,  alms-giving,  ablution,4 
and  war  against  infidels.  The  key,  say  they,  is  the  emblem  of 
the  faith  or  of  power;  the  key  of  Daoud  or  David,  transmitted  5 
to  the  prophet.  "  And  the  key  of  the  house  of  David  will  I  lay 
upon  his  shoulder;  so  he  shall  open  and  none  shall  shut,  and 
he  shall  shut  and  none  shall  open"  (Isaiah  xxii.  22).  The 

1  jutting  out.  9  seemingly  controlled  or  threatened.  «  washing. 

8  gateway.  5  handed  down. 


14  PALACE   OF   THE   ALHAMBRA. 

key,  we  are  told,  was  emblazoned '  on  the  standard  of  the 
Moslems  in  opposition  to  the  Christian  emblem  of  the  cross, 
when  they  subdued  Spain,  or  Andalusia.  It  betokened  the 
conquering  power  invested3  in  the  prophet.  "  He  that  hath 
the  key  of  David,  he  that  openeth  and  no  man  shutteth ;  and 
shutteth  and  no  man  openeth"  (Rev.  iii.  7). 

A  different  explanation  of  these  emblems,  however,  was 
given  by  the  legitimate  son  of  the  Alhambra,  and  one  more  in 
unison 3  with  the  notions  of  the  common  people,  who  attach 
something  of  mystery  and  magic  to  every  thing  Moorish,  and 
have  all  kind  of  superstitions  connected  with  this  old  Moslem 
fortress.  According  to  Mateo,  it  was  a  tradition  handed  down 
from  the  oldest  inhabitants,  and  which  he  had  from  his  father 
and  grandfather,  that  the  hand  and  key  were  magical  de 
vices  on  which  the  fate  of  the  Alhambra  depended.  The 
Moorish  king  who  built  it  was  a  great  magician,  or,  as  some 
believed,  had  sold  himself  to  the  devil,  and  had  laid  the  whole 
fortress  under  a  magic  spell.  By  this  means  it  had  remained 
standing  for  several  hundred  years,  in  defiance  of  storms  and 
earthquakes,  while  almost  all  other  buildings  of  the  Moors 
had  fallen  to  ruin,  and  disappeared.  This  spell,  the  tradition 
went  on  to  say,  would  last  until  the  hand  on  the  outer  arch 
should  reach  down  and  grasp  the  key,  when  the  whole  pile 
would  tumble  to  pieces,  and  all  the  treasures  buried  beneath  it 
by  the  Moors  would  be  revealed. 

Notwithstanding  this  ominous4  prediction,  we  ventured  to 
pass  through  the  spell-bound  gateway. 

After  passing  through  the  barbican,  we  ascended  a  narrow 
lane,  winding  between  walls,  and  came  on  an  open  esplanade  ;> 
within  the  fortress,  called  the  Plaza  de  los  Algibes,  or  Place  of 
the  Cisterns,  from  great  reservoirs  which  undermine  it,  cut  in 
the  living  rocks  by  the  Moors  to  receive  the  water  brought  by 
conduits  from  the  Darro/  for  the  supply  of  the  fortress.  Here, 

1  depicted  ;  represented.         *  harmony  ;  agreement.         *  level  place. 

3  given  to  ;  put  upon.  *  threatening.  •  a  small  tributary  of  the  Xenil. 


PALACE   OF  THE   ALHAMBRA.  15 

also,  is  a  well  of  immense  depth,  furnishing  the  purest  and 
coldest  of  water;  another  monument  of  the  delicate  taste  of 
the  Moors,  who  were  indefatigable '  in  the  exertions  to  obtain 
that  element  in  its  purity. 

In  front  of  this  esplanade  is  the  splendid  j)ile  commenced 
by  Charles  V.,  and  intended,  it  is  said,  to  eclipse  the  residence 
of  the  Moorish  kings.  Much  of  the  Oriental  edifice  intended 
for  the  winter  season  was  demolished2  to  make  way  for  this 
massive  pile.  The  grand  entrance  was  blocked  up,  so  that  the 
present  entrance  to  the  Moorish  palace  is  through  a  simple 
and  almost  humble  portal  in  a  corner.  With  all  the  massive 
grandeur  and  architectural  merit  of  the  palace  of  Charles  V., 
we  regarded  it  as  an  arrogant 3  intruder,  and,  passing  by  it  with 
a  fe'eling  almost  of  scorn,  rang  at  the  Moslem  portal. 

While  waiting  for  admittance,  our  self-imposed  cicerone, 
Mateo  Ximenes,  informed  us  that  the  royal  palace  was  intrusted 
to  the  care  of  a  worthy  old  maiden  dame  called  Dona  Antonia 
Molina,  but  who,  according  to  Spanish  custom,  went  by  the 
more  neighborly  appellation  of  Tia  Antonia  (Aunt  Antonia), 
who  maintained  the  Moorish  halls  and  gardens  in  order  and 
showed  them  to  strangers.  While  we  were  talking,  the  door 
was  opened  by  a  plump  little  black-eyed  Andalusian  damsel, 
whom  Mateo  addressed  as  Dolores,4  but  who,  from  her  bright 
looks  and  cheerful  disposition,  evidently  merited  a  merrier 
'  name.  Mateo  informed  me  in  a  whisper  that  she  was  the 
niece  of  Tia  Antonia,  and  I  found  she  was  the  good  fairy  who 
was  to  conduct  us  through  the  enchanted  palace.  Under  her 
guidance  we  crossed  the  threshold,  and  were  at  once  trans 
ported,5  as  if  by  magic  wand,  into  other  times  and  an  Oriental 
realm,  and  were  treading  the  scenes  of  Arabian  story.  Noth 
ing  could  be  in  greater  contrast  than  the  unpromising  ex 
terior  of  the  pile  with  the  scene  now  before  us.  We  found 
ourselves  in  a  vast  patio,  or  court,  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in 

1  tireless.        *  destroyed.  *  meaning  sorrowful. 

*  assuming  ;  haughty.  6  carried. 


16  PALACE   OF  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

length,  and  upwards  of  eighty  feet  in  breadth,  paved  with 
white  marble,  and  decorated  at  each  end  with  light  Moorish 
peristyles,1  one  of  which  supported  an  elegant  gallery  of  fretted 
architecture.  Along  the  mouldings  of  the  cornices2  and  on 
various  parts  of  the  walls  were  escutcheons 3  and  ciphers,  and 
cufic4  and  Arabic  characters  in  high  relief,  repeating  the 
pious  mottoes  of  the  Moslem  monarchs,  the  builders  of  the 
Alhambra,  or  extolling  their  grandeur  and  munificence.5 
Along  the  centre  of  the  court  extended  an  immense  basin, 
or  tank,  a  hundred  and  twenty-four  feet  in  length,  twenty- 
seven  in  breadth,  and  five  in  depth,  receiving  its  water  from 
two  marble  vases.  Hence  it  is  called  the  Court  of  the 
Alberca,  the  Arabic  for  a  pond  or  tank.  Great  numbers  of 
gold-fish  were  to  be  seen  gleaming  through  the  waters  of  the 
basin,  and  it  was  bordered  by  hedges  of  roses. 

Passing  from  the  court  of  the  Alberca,  under  a  Moorish  arch 
way,  we  entered  the  renowned  Court  of  Lions.  No  part  of 
the  edifice  gives  a  more  complete  idea  of  its  original  beauty 
than  this,  for  none  has  suffered  so  little  from  the  ravages H  of 
time.  In  the  centre  stands  the  fountain  famous  in  song  and 
story.  The  alabaster 7  basins  still  shed  their  diamond  drops;  the 
twelve  lions  which  support  them,  and  give  the  court  its  name, 
still  cast  forth  crystal  streams  as  in  the  days  of  Boabdil.8  The 
lions,  however,  are  unworthy  of  their  fame,  being  of  miserable 
sculpture ;  the  work,  probably,  of  some  Christian  captive.  The 
court  is  laid  out  in  flower-beds,  instead  of  its  ancient  and 
appropriate  pavement  of  tiles  and  marble;  the  alteration,  an 
instance  .of  bad  taste,  was  made  by  the  French  when  in  posses 
sion  of  Granada.  Round  the  four  sides  of  the  court  are  light 
Arabian  arcades  of  open  filigree 9  work  supported  by  slender 
pillars  of  white  marble,  which  it  is  supposed  were  originally 

1  ranges  of  columns.  4  pertaining  to  the  older  characters  of  the 

9  moulded  projections  finishing  the  part  Arabic  language. 

to  which  they  are  attached.  *  bounty  ;  liberality.      *  wastes  ;  inroada 

3  shields  on  which  are  coats  of  arms.  T  a  tine  white  variety  of  gypsum. 

8  last  Moorish  king  of  Granada.  •  ornamental  network. 


PALACE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.  17 

gilded.  The  architecture,  like  that  in  most  parts  of  the 
interior  of  the  palace,  is  characterized  by  elegance,  rather  than 
grandeur;  bespeaking  a  delicate  and  graceful  taste,  and  a  dis 
position  to  indolent '  enjoyment.  When  one  looks  upon  the 
fairy  traces  of  the  peristyles,  and  the  apparently  fragile  fret 
work  of  the  walls,  it  is  difficult  to  believe  that  so  much  has 
survived  the  wear  and  tear  of  centuries,  the  shocks  of  earth 
quakes,  the  violence  of  war,  and  the  quiet,  though  no  less 
baneful,2  pilferings  of  the  tasteful  traveller;  it  is  almost  suffi 
cient  to  excuse  the  popular  tradition  that  the  whole  is 
tected  by  a  magic  charm. 

On  one  side  of  the  court  a  rich  portal  opens  into  the  Hall  of 
the  Abencerrages,  so  called  from  the  gallant  cavaliers  of  that 
illustrious  line  who  were  here  perfidiously  3  massacred.  There 
are  some  who  doubt  the  whole  story;  but  our  humble  cicerone 
Mateo  pointed  out  the  very  wicket  of  the  portal  through 
which  they  were  introduced  one  by  one  into  the  Court  of  Lions, 
and  the  white  marble  fountain  in  the  centre  of  the  hall,  beside 
which  they  were  beheaded.  He  showed  us  also  certain  broad 
,ruddy  stains  on  the  pavement,  traces  of  their  blood,  which, 
according  to  popular  belief,  can  never  be  effaced. 

Immediately  opposite  the  Hall  of  the  Abencerrages  a  portal, 
richly  adorned,  leads  into  a  hall  of  less  tragical  associations. 
It  is  light  and  lofty,  exquisitely  graceful  in  its  architecture, 
paved  with  white  marble,  and  bears  the  suggestive  name  of  the 
Hall  of  the  Two  Sisters.  Some  destroy  the  romance  of  the 
name  by  attributing  it  to  two  enormous  slabs  of  alabaster 
which  lie  side  by  side,  and  form  a  great  part  of  the  pavement; 
an  opinion  strongly  supported  by  Mateo  Ximenes.  Others  are 
disposed  to  give  the  name  a  more  poetical  significance,  as  the 
vague  memorial  of  Moorish  beauties  who  once  graced  this  hall, 
which  was  evidently  a  part  of  the  royal  harem.4  This  opinion 
I  was  happy  to  find  entertained  by  our  little  bright-eyed  guide 

1  lazy  ;  idle.         *  injurious  ;  destructive.         4  portion  of  the  house  allotted  to  females 
8  treacherously.  in  large  dwellings  of  the  East. 

2 


18  PALACE   OF   THE    ALHAMBRA. 

Dolores,,  who  pointed  to  a  balcony  over  an  inner  porch,  which 
gallery,  she  had  been  told,  belonged  to  the  women's  apartment. 
"  You  see,  seflor,"  said  she,  "  it  is  all  grated  and  latticed,  like 
the  gallery  in  a  convent  chapel  where  the  nuns  hear  mass;  for 
the  Moorish  kings,"  said  she,  indignantly,  "shut  up  their 
wives  just  like  nuns." 

The  latticed  "jalousies,"  l  in  fact,  still  remain,  whence  the 
dark-eyed  beauties  of  the  harem  might  gaze  unseen  upon  the 
zambras  and  other  dances  and  entertainments  of  the  hall  below. 

On  each  side  of  this  hall  are  recesses  or  alcoves  for  ottomans 
and  couches,  on  which  the  voluptuous 2  lords  of  the  Alhambra 
indulged  in  that  dreamy  repose  so  dear  to  the  Orientalists.  A 
cupola  or  lantern  admits  a  tempered  light  from  above,  and  a 
free  circulation  of  air;  while  on  one  side  is  heard  the  refresh 
ing  sound  of  waters  from  the  Fountain  of  the  Lions,  and  on 
the  other  side  the  soft  plash  from  the  basin  in  the  Garden  of 
Lindaraxa. 

It  is  impossible  to  comtemplate  this  scene  so  perfectly 
Oriental  without  feeling  the  early  associations  of  Arabian 
romance,  and  almost  expecting  to  see  the  white  arm  of  some 
mysterious  princess  beckoning  from  the  gallery,  or  some  dark 
eye  sparkling  through  the  lattice.  The  abode  of  beauty  is 
here,  as  if  it  had  been  inhabited  but  yesterday ;  but  where  are 
the  two  sisters  ?  Where  the  Zoraydas  and  Lindaraxas  ? 

An  abundant  supply  of  water,  brought  from  the  mountains 
by  old  Moorish  aqueducts,  circulates  throughout  the  palace, 
supplying  its  baths  and  fish -pools,  sparkling  in  jets  within  its 
halls,  or  murmuring  in  channels  along  the  marble  pavements. 
When  it  has  paid  its  tribute  to  the  royal  pile,  and  visited  its 
gardens  and  parterres,3  it  flows  down  the  long  avenue  leading 
to  the  city,  tinkling  in  rills,  gushing  in  fountains,  and  main 
taining  a  perpetual  verdure  in  those  groves  that  embower  and 
beautify  the  whole  hill  of  the  Alhambra. 

1  slatted  window  blinds.  8  ornamental  arrangement  of  flower-beds, 

2  given  to  sensual  pleasure.  with  walks  between. 


PALACE   OF   THE   ALHAMBRA.  19 

Those  only  who  have  sojourned  in  the  ardent  climates  of  the 
South  can  appreciate  the  delights  of  an  abode  combining  the 
breezy  coolness  of  the  mountain  with  the  freshness  and  verdure 
of  the  valley.  While  the  city  below  pants  with  the  noontide 
heat,  and  the  parched  Vega  *  trembles  to  the  eye,  the  delicate 
airs  from  the  Sierra  Nevada  play  through  these  lofty  halls, 
bringing  with  them  the  sweetness  of  the  surrounding  gardens. 
Every  thing  invites  to  that  indolent  repose,  the  bliss  of  south 
ern  climes;  and  while  the  half-shut  eye  looks  out  from  shaded 
balconies  upon  the  glittering  landscape,  the  ear  is  lulled  by  the 
rustling  of  groves  and  the  murmur  of  running  streams. 

I  forbear,  for  the  present,  however,  to  describe  the  other 
delightful  apartments  of  the  palace.  My  object  is  merely  to 
give  the  reader  a  general  introduction  into  an  abode  where, 
if  so  disposed,  he  may  linger  and  loiter  with  me  day  by  day 
until  we  gradually  become  familiar  with  all  its  localities. 

i  (vay'gah),  valley. 


ALHAMAR,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

THE  Moors  of  Granada  regarded  the  Alhambra  as  a  miracle 
of  art,  and  had  a  tradition  that  the  king  who  founded  it  dealt 
in  magic,  or  at  least  in  alchemy/  by  means  whereof  he  pro 
cured  the  immense  sums  of  gold  expended  in  its  erection.  A 
brief  view  of  his  reign  will  show  the  secret  of  his  wealth. 
He  is  known  in  Arabian  history  as  Muhamed  Ibii-1-Ahmar; 
but  his  name  in  general  is  written  simply  Alhamar,  and  was 
given  to  him,  we  are  told,  on  account  of  his  ruddy  complexion. 

He  was  of  the  noble  and  opulent 2  line  of  the  Beni  Nasar, 
or  tribe  of  Nasar,  and  was  born  in  Arjona,  in  the  year  of  the 
Hegira8  592  (A.D.  1195).  At  his  birth  the  astrologers,  we  are 
told,  cast  his  horoscope,4  according  to  Oriental  custom,  and 
pronounced  it  highly  auspicious ;  and  a  santon 5  predicted  f or 
him  a  glorious  career.  No  expense  was  spared  in  fitting  him 
for  the  high  destinies  prognosticated.6  Before  he  attained  the 
full  years  of  manhood,  the  famous  battle  of  the  Navas  (or 
plains)  of  Tolosa  shattered  the  Moorish  empire,  and  eventually 
severed  the  Moslems  of  Spain  from  the  Moslems  of  Africa. 
Factions  soon  arose  among  the  former,  headed  by  warlike 
chiefs,  ambitious  of  grasping  the  sovereignty 7  of  the  Penin 
sula.  Alhamar  became  engaged  in  these  wars ;  he  was  the  gen 
eral  and  leader  of  the  Beni  Nasar,  and,  as  such,  he  opposed 
and  thwarted  the  ambition  of  Aben  Hud,  who  had  raised  his 
standard  among  the  warlike  mountains  of  the  Alpuxaras,8  and 

1  an  ancient  science  which  aimed  to  change  at  the  time  of  one's  birth  to  foretell  the 

base  metals  into  gold.  events  of  his  life. 

3  wealthy.  6  a  Turkish  saint.             « foretold. 

8  the  flight  of  Mohammed  from  Mecca,  7  right  to  exercise  supreme  power. 
July   16,    622,    from  which   date   time   is  8  (ahl-poo-hah'rahs),  mountain  range  par- 
reckoned  by  his  followers.  allel  to  the  Sierra  Nevada  from  Motril  to  the 

*  observation  of  the  aspect  of  the  heavens  river  Almeria. 


ALHAMAR,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.     21 

been  proclaimed  king  of  Murcia '  and  Granada.  Many  con 
flicts  took  place  between  these  warring  chieftains;  Alhamar 
dispossessed  his  rival  of  several  important  places,  and  was  pro 
claimed  king  of  Jaen3  by  his  soldiery;  but  he  aspired  to  the 
sovereignty  of  the  whole  of  Andalusia,  for  he  was  of  a  san 
guine  3  spirit  and  lofty  ambition.  His  valor  and  generosity 
went  hand  in  hand;  what  he  gained  by  the  one  he  secured  by 
the  other;  and  at  the  death  of  Aben  Hud  (A.D.  1238),  he 
became  sovereign  of  all  the  territories  which  owned  allegiance 
to  that  powerful  chief.  He  made  his  formal  entry  into  Gra 
nada  in  the  same  year,  amid  the  enthusiastic  shouts  of  the  mul 
titude,  who  hailed  him  as  the  only  one  capable  of  uniting  the 
various  factions  which  prevailed,  and  which  threatened  to  lay 
the  empire  at  the  mercy  of  the  Christian  princes. 

Alhamar  established  his  court  in  Granada;  he  was  the  first 
of  the  illustrious4  line  of  Nasar  that  sat  upon  a  throne.  He 
took  immediate  measures  to  put  his  little  kingdom  in  a  post 
ure  of  defence  against  the  assaults  to  be  expected  from  his 
Christian  neighbors,  repairing  and  strengthening  the  frontier 
posts  and  fortifying  the  capital.  Not  content  with  the  pro 
visions  of  the  Moslem  law,  by  which  every  man  is  made  a 
soldier,  he  raised  a  regular  army  to  garrison  his  strongholds, 
allowing  every  soldier  stationed  on  the  frontier  a  portion  of 
land  for  the  support  of  himself,  his  horse,  and  his  family;  thus 
interesting  him  in  the  defence  of  the  soil  in  which  he  had 
a  property.  These  wise  precautions  were  justified  by  events. 
The  Christians,  profiting  by  the  dismemberment  of  the  Mos 
lem  power,  were  rapidly  regaining  their  ancient  territories. 
James  the  Conqueror  had  subjected  all  Valencia,  and  Ferdi 
nand5  the  Saint  sat  down  in  person  before  Jaen,  the  bul 
wark  of  Granada.  Alhamar  ventured  to  oppose  him  in  open 
field,  but  met  with  a  signal  defeat,  and  retired  discomfited  to 

1  province    in   southeast   of    Spain,  sur-  3  bloody,  with  desire  for  war  and  blood- 
rounded  by  Granada,  Andalusia,  La  Mane  ha,  shed, 
and  Valencia.  *  noted. 

9  province  fifty  miles  north  of  Granada.  *  He  founded  the  University  of  Salamanca. 


22     ALHAMAR,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

his  capital.  Jaen  still  held  out,  and  kept  the  enemy  at  bay 
during  an  entire  winter;  but  Ferdinand  swore  not  to  raise  his 
camp  until  he  had  gained  possession  of  the  place.  Alhamar 
found  it  impossible  to  throw  reinforcements  into  the  besieged 
city;  he  saw  that  its  fall  must  be  followed  by  the  investment ' 
of  his  capital,  and  was  conscious  of  the  insufficiency  of  his 
means  to  cope  with  the  potent  sovereign  of  Castile.  Taking 
a  sudden  resolution,  therefore,  he  repaired  privately  to  the 
Christian  camp,  made  his  unexpected  appearance  in  the  pres 
ence  of  King  Ferdinand,  and  frankly  announced  himself  as 
the  king  of  Granada.  "  I  come,"  said  he,  "  confiding  in  your 
good  faith,  to  put  myself  under  your  protection.  Take  all  T 
possess  and  receive  me  as  your  vassal;  "  2  so  saying,  he  knelt 
and  kissed  the  king's  hand  in  token  of  allegiance. 

Ferdinand  was  won  by  this  instance  of  confiding  faith,  and 
determined  not  to  be  outdone  in  generosity.  He  raised  his  late 
enemy  from  the  earth,  embraced  him  as  a  friend,  and,  refus 
ing  the  wealth  he  offered,  left  him  sovereign  of  his  dominions, 
under  the  feudal  tenure  of  a  yearly  tribute,  attendance  at  the 
Cortes  as  one  of  the  nobles  of  the  empire,  and  service  in  war 
with  a  certain  number  of  horsemen.  He,  moreover,  conferred 
on  him  the  honor  of  knighthood,  and  armed  him  with  his  own 
hands. 

It  was  not  long  after  this  that  Alhamar  was  called  upon  for 
his  military  services,  to  aid  King  Ferdinand  in  his  famous  siege 
of  Seville.3  The  Moorish  king  sallied  forth  with  five  hundred 
chosen  horsemen  of  Granada,  than  whom  none  in  the  world 
knew  better  how  to  manage  the  steed  or  wield  the  lance.  It 
was  a  humiliating 4  service,  however,  for  they  had  to  draw  the 
sword  against  their  brethren  of  the  faith. 

Alhamar  gained  a  melancholy  distinction  by  his  prowess  in 
this  renowned  conquest,  but  more  true  honor  by  the  humanity 

1  surrounding.  3  city  on  left  bank  of  Guadalquiver,  eighty 

2  subject ;  slave.  miles  from  its  mouth, 

*  humbling. 


ALHAMAR,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.     23 

which  he  prevailed  upon  Ferdinand  to  introduce  into  the 
usages  of  war.  When  in  1248  the  famous  city  of  Seville  sur 
rendered  to  the  Castilian  monarch,  Alhamar  returned  sad  and 
full  of  care  to  his  dominions.  He  saw  the  gathering  ills  that 
menaced  the  Moslem  cause,  and  uttered  an  ejaculation  often 
used  by  him  in  moments  of  anxiety  and  trouble:  "How 
straightened  and  wretched  would  be  our  life,  if  our  hope  were 
not  so  spacious  and  extensive." 

As  he  approached  Granada,  on  his  return,  he  beheld  arches 
of  triumph  which  had  been  erected  in  honor  of  his  martial 
exploits.  The  people  thronged  forth  to  see  him  with  impatient 
joy,  for  his  benignant  '  rule  had  won  all  hearts.  Wherever  he 
passed  he  was  hailed  with  acclamations  as  "  The  Conqueror." 
Alhamar  gave  a  melancholy  shake  of  the  head  on  hearing  the 
appellation.  "There  is  no  conqueror  but  God!"  exclaimed 
he.  FromMhat  time  forward  this  exclamation  became  his 
motto,  and  the  motto  of  his  descendants,  and  appears  to 
this  day  emblazoned  on  his  escutcheons  in  the  halls  of  the 
Alhambra. 

Alhamar  had  purchased  peace  by  submission  to  the  Christian 
yoke;  but  he  was  conscious  that,  with  elements  so  discordant,2 
and  motives  for  hostility  so  deep  and  ancient,  it  could  not  be 
permanent.  Acting,  therefore,  upon  the  old  maxim,,  "  Arm 
thyself  in  peace,  and  clothe  thyself  in  summer,"  he  improved 
the  present  interval  of  tranquillity 3  by  fortifying  his  dominions, 
replenishing  his  arsenals,4  and  promoting  those  useful  arts 
which  give  wealth  and  real  power.  He  confided  the  command 
of  his  various  cities  to  such  as  had  distinguished  themselves  by 
valor  and  prudence,  and  who  seemed  most  acceptable  to  the 
people.  He  organized  a  vigilant  police,  and  established  rigid 
rules  for  the  administration  of  justice.  The  poor  and  the  dis 
tressed  always  found  ready  admission  to  his  presence,  and  he 
attended  personally  to  their  assistance  and  redress.  He  erected 

1  kind  ;  mild.  3  freedom  from  disturbing  influences. 

8  inharmonious  ;  contradictory.  *  storehouses  for  weapons  of  war. 


24     ALHAMAR,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBEA. 

hospitals  for  the  blind,  the  aged,  and  infirm,  and  all  those  in 
capable  Of  labor,  and  visited  them  frequently ;  not  on  set  days, 
with  pomp  and  form,  so  as  to  give  time  for  every  thing  to  be 
put  in  order,  and  every  abuse  concealed ;  but  suddenly  and  un 
expectedly,  informing  himself,  by  actual  observation  and  close 
inquiry,  of  the  treatment  of  the  sick  and  the  conduct  of  those 
appointed  to  administer  to  their  relief.  He  founded  schools 
and  colleges,  which  he  visited  in  the  same  manner,  inspecting 
personally  the  instruction  of  the  youth.  He  established 
butcheries  and  public  ovens,  that  the  people  might  be  furnished 
with  wholesome  provisions  at  just  and  regular  prices.  He 
introduced  abundant  streams  of  water  into  the  city,  erecting 
baths  and  fountains,  and  constructing  aqueducts  and  canals 
to  irrigate  l  and  fertilize  the  Vega.  By  these  means  prosperity 
and  abundance  prevailed  in  this  beautiful  city,  its  gates  were 
thronged  with  commerce,  and  its  warehouses  filled  with  luxu 
ries  and  merchandise  of  every  clime  and  country. 

He,  moreover,  gave  premiums  and  privileges  to  the  best  arti 
sans;2  improved  the  breed  of  horses  and  other  domestic  ani 
mals  ;  encouraged  husbandry ; 3  and  increased  the  natural 
fertility  of  the  soil  twofold  by  his  protection,  making  the  lovely 
valleys  of  his  kingdom  to  bloom  like  gardens.  He  fostered 
also  the  growth  and  fabrication  4  of  silk,  until  the  looms  of 
Granada  surpassed  even  those  of  Syria5  in  the  fineness  and 
beauty  of  their  productions.  He,  moreover,  caused  the  mines 
of  gold  and  silver  and  other  metals,  found  in  the  mountainous 
regions  of  his  dominions,  to  be  diligently  worked,  and  was  the 
first  king  of  Granada  who  struck  money  of  gold  and  silver 
with  his  name,  taking  great  care  that  the  coins  should  be 
skilfully  executed. 

It  was  towards  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century,  and 
just  after  his  return  from  the  siege  of  Seville,  that  he  com- 

1  distribute  water  over.  «  making. 

3  skilled  workmen.  6  territory  of  Asiatic  Turkey,  bordering  on 

»  farming.  Mediterranean  Sea. 


ALHAMAR,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.    25 

menced  the  splendid  palace  of  the  Alhambra,  superintending 
the  building  of  it  in  person,  mingling  frequently  among  the 
artists  and  workmen,  and  directing  their  labors. 

Though  thus  magnificent  in  his  works  and  great  in  his  enter 
prises,  he  was  simple  in  his  person  and  moderate  in  his  enjoy 
ments.  His  dress  was  not  merely  void  of  splendor,  but  so 
plain  as  not  to  distinguish  him  from  his  subjects.  His  harem 
boasted  but  few  beauties,  and  these  he  visited  but  seldom, 
though  they  were  entertained  with  great  magnificence.  His 
wives  were  daughters  of  the  principal  nobles,  and  were  treated 
by  him  as  friends  and  rational  companions.  What  is  more, 
he  managed  to  make  them  live  in  friendship  with  one  another. 
He  passed  much  of  his  time  in  his  gardens,  especially  in  those 
of  the  Alhambra,  which  he  had  stored  with  the  rarest  plants 
and  the  most  beautiful  and  aromatic '  flowers.  Here  he 
delighted  himself  in  reading  histories,  or  in  causing  them  to 
be  read  and  related  to  him,  and  sometimes,  in  intervals  of  leis 
ure,  employed  himself  in  the  instruction  of  his  three  sons,  for 
whom  he  had  provided  the  most  learned  and  virtuous  masters. 

As  he  had  frankly  and  voluntarily  offered  himself  a  tribu 
tary  vassal  to  Ferdinand,  so  he  always  remained  loyal  to  his 
word,  giving  him  repeated  proofs  of  fidelity  and  attachment. 
When  that  renowned  monarch  died  in  Seville  in  1254,  Alha- 
mar  sent  ambassadors  to  condole  with  his  successor,  Alonzo  X., 
and  with  them  a  gallant  train  of  a  hundred  Moorish  cavaliers 
of  distinguished  rank,  who  were  to  attend  round  the  royal  bier 
during  the  funeral  ceremonies,  each  bearing  a  lighted  taper. 
This  grand  testimonial  of  respect  was  repeated  by  the  Moslem 
monarch  during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  on  each  anniversary 
of  the  death  of  King  Ferdinand  el  Santo,  when  the  hundred 
Moorish  knights  repaired  from  Granada  to  Seville,  and  took 
their  stations,  with  lighted  tapers,  in  the  centre  of  the  sumptu 
ous  cathedral,  round  the  cenotaph a  of  the  illustrious  deceased. 

Alhamar  retained  his  faculties  and  vigor  to  an  advanced  age. 

>  fragrant.  8  empty  tomb  erected  in  honor  of  some  one  buried  elsewhere. 


26     ALHAMAR,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

In  his  seventy-ninth  year  (A.D.  1272)  he  took  the  field  on 
horseback,  accompanied  by  the  flower  of  his  chivalry,  to  resist 
an  invasion  of  his  territories.  As  the  army  sallied  forth  from 
Granada,  one  of  the  principal  adalides,  or  guides,  who  rode 
in  advance,  accidentally  broke  his  lance  against  the  arch  of  the 
gate.  The  councillors  of  the  king,  alarmed  by  this  circum 
stance,  which  was  considered  an  evil  omen,  entreated  him  to 
return.  Their  supplications  were  in  vain.  The  king  persisted, 
and  at  noontide  the  omen,  say  the  Moorish  chroniclers,  was 
fatally  fulfilled.  Alhamar  was  suddenly  struck  with  illness, 
and  had  nearly  fallen  from  his  horse.  He  was  placed  on  a  litter, 
and  borne  back  towards  Granada,  but  his  illness  increased  to 
such  a  degree  that  they  were  obliged  to  pitch  his  tent  in  the 
Vega.  His  physicians  were  filled  with  consternation,1  not 
knowing  what  remedy  to  prescribe.  In  a  few  hours  he  died, 
vomiting  blood,  and  in  violent  convulsions.  The  Castilian 
prince  Don  Philip,  brother  of  Alonzo  X.,  was  by  his  side 
when  he  expired.  His  body  was  embalmed,  enclosed  in  a 
silver  coffin,  and  buried  in  the  Alhambra,  in  a  sepulchre  of 
precious  marble,  amidst  the  unfeigned  lamentations  of  his  sub 
jects,  who  bewailed  him  as  a  parent. 

I  have  said  that  he  was  the  first  of  the  illustrious  line  of 
Nasar  that  sat  upon  a  throne.  I  may  add  that  he  was  the 
founder  of  a  brilliant  kingdom,  which  will  ever  be  famous  in 
history  and  romance  as  the  last  rallying  place  of  Moslem 
power  and  splendor  in  the  Peninsula.  Though  his  undertak 
ings  were  vast,  and  his  expenditures  immense,  yet  his  treasury 
was  always  full;  and  this  seeming  contradiction  gave  rise  to 
the  story  that  he  was  versed  in  magic  art,  and  possessed  of  the 
secret  for  transmuting  baser  metals  into  gold.  Those  who  have 
attended  to  his  domestic  policy,  as  here  set  forth,  will  easily 
understand  the  natural  magic  and  simple  alchemy  which 
made  his  ample  treasury  to  overflow. 

1  sudden  alarm  confusing  the  mind. 


YUSEF  ABUL   HAGIG, 

THE   FINISHER   OF   THE   ALHAMBRA. 

To  the  foregoing  particulars,  concerning  the  Moslem  princes 
who  once  reigned  in  these  halls,  I  shall  add  a  brief  notice  of 
the  monarch  who  completed  and  embellished  1  the  Alhambra. 
Yusef  Abul  Hagig  (or,  as  it  is  sometimes  written,  Haxis)  was 
another  prince  of  the  noble  line  of  Nasar.  He  ascended  the 
throne  of  Granada  in  the  year  of  grace  1333,  and  is  described 
by  Moslem  writers  as  having  a  noble  presence,  great  bodily 
strength,  and  a  fair  complexion,  and  the  majesty  of  his  coun 
tenance  increased,  say  they,  by  suffering  his  beard  to  grow  to 
a  dignified  length  and  dyeing  it  black.  His  manners  were 
gentle,  affable,  and  urbane;2  he  carried  the  benignity3  of  his 
nature  into  warfare,  prohibiting  all  wanton4  cruelty,  and 
enjoining  mercy  and  protection  towards  women  and  children, 
the  aged  and  infirm,  and  all  friars  and  other  persons  of  holy 
and  recluse  life.  But  though  he  possessed  the  courage  com 
mon  to  generous  spirits,  the  bent  of  his  genius  was  more  for 
peace  than  war;  and  though  repeatedly  obliged  by  circum 
stances  to  take  up  arms,  he  was  generally  unfortunate. 

Among  other  ill-starred  enterprises,  he  undertook  a  great 
campaign,  in  conjunction  with  the  King  of  Morocco,  against 
the  Kings  of  Castile  and  Portugal,  but  was  defeated  in  the 
memorable  battle  of  Salado,5  which  had  nearly  proved  a  death 
blow  to  the  Moslem  power  in  Spain. 

Yiisef  obtained  a  long  truce  after  this  defeat,  and  now  his 
character  shone  forth  in  its  true  lustre.  He  had  an  excellent 

1  ornamented  4  unrestrained  ;  reckless. 

»  polite.  *  small  river  in  province  of  Cadiz. 

*  kindness. 


28  YUSEF   ABUL   HAGIG. 

memory,  and  had  stored  his  mind  with  science  and  erudition; l 
his  taste  was  altogether  elegant  and  refined,  and  he  was 
accounted  the  best  poet  of  his  time.  Devoting  himself  to  the 
instruction  of  his  people  and  the  improvement  of  their  morals 
and  manners,  he  established  schools  in  all  the  villages,  with 
simple  and  uniform  systems  of  education;  he  obliged  every 
hamlet  of  more  than  twelve  houses  to  have  a  mosque,2  and 
purified  the  ceremonies  of  religion,  and  the  festivals  and  pop 
ular  amusements,  from  various  abuses  and  indecorums 3  which 
had  crept  into  them.  He  attended  vigilantly  to  the  police 
of  the  city,  establishing  nocturnal 4  guards  and  patrols,  and 
superintending  all  municipal  concerns.  His  attention  was 
also  directed  towards  finishing  the  great  architectural  works 
commenced  by  his  predecessors,  and  erecting  others  on  his 
own  plans.  The  Alhambra,  which  had  been  founded  by  the 
good  Alhamar,  was  now  completed.  Yusef  constructed  the 
beautiful  Gate  of  Justice,  forming  the  grand  entrance  to  the  for 
tress,  which  he  finished  in  1348.  He  likewise  adorned  many 
of  the  courts  and  halls  of  the  palace,  as  may  be  seen  by  the 
inscriptions  on  the  walls,  in  which  his  name  repeatedly  occurs. 
He  built  also  the  noble  Alcazar  or  citadel  of  Malaga,  now 
unfortunately  a  mere  mass  of  crumbling  ruins,  but  which 
most  probably  exhibited  in  its  interior  similar  elegance  and 
magnificence  with  the  Alhambra. 

The  genius  of  a  sovereign  stamps  a  character  upon  his  time. 
The  nobles  of  Granada,  imitating  the  elegant  and  graceful 
taste  of  Yusef,  soon  filled  the  city  of  Granada  with  magnifi 
cent  palaces,  the  halls  of  which  were  paved  with  mosaic;  the 
walls  and  ceilings  wrought  in  fretwork,  and  delicately  gilded 
and  painted  with  azure,  vermilion,  and  other  brilliant  colors, 
or  minutely  inlaid  with  cedar  and  other  precious  woods; 
specimens  of  which  have  survived,  in  all  their  lustre,  the 
lapse  of  several  centuries.  Many  of  the  houses  had  fountains, 

1  very  great  learning.  3  improprieties  of  behavior. 

2  Mohammedan  place  of  worship.  *  nightly. 


YUSEF   ABUL    HAGIG.  29 

which  threw  up  jets  of  water  to  refresh  and  cool  the  air.  They 
had  lofty  towers,  also,  of  wood  or  stone,  curiously  carved  and 
ornamented,  and  covered  with  plates  of  metal  that  glittered 
in  the  sun.  Such  was  the  refined  and  delicate  taste  in  archi 
tecture  that  prevailed  among  this  elegant  people;  insomuch 
that,  to  use  the  beautiful  simile  of  an  Arabian  writer,  "  Gra 
nada,  in  the  days  of  Yusef,  was  as  a  silver  vase  filled  with  em 
eralds  and  jacinths." 

One  anecdote  will  be  sufficient  to  show  the  magnanimity  l 
of  this  generous  prince.  The  long  truce  which  had  succeeded 
the  battle  of  Salado  was  at  an  end,  and  every  effort  of  Yusef 
to  renew  it  was  in  vain.  His  deadly  foe,  Alfonzo  XI.  of  Cas 
tile,  took  the  field  with  great  force,  and  laid  siege  to  Gibraltar. 
Yusef  reluctantly  took  up  arms,  and  sent  troops  to  the  relief 
of  the  place.  In  the  midst  of  his  anxiety,  he  received  tidings 
that  his  dreaded  foe  had  suddenly  fallen  a  victim  to  the  plague. 
Instead  of  manifesting  exultation  on  the  occasion,  Yusef 
called  to  mind  the  great  qualities  of  the  deceased,  and  was 
touched  with  a  noble  sorrow.  "  Alas  !  "  cried  he,  "  the  world 
has  lost  one  of  its  most  excellent  princes;  a  sovereign  who 
knew  how  to  honor  merit,  whether  in  friend  or  foe!  " 

The  Spanish  chroniclers  themselves  bear  witness  to  this 
magnanimity.  According  to  their  accounts,  the  Moorish  cava 
liers  partook  of  the  sentiment  of  their  king,  and  put  on 
mourning  for  the  death  of  Alfonzo.  Even  those  of  Gibraltar, 
who  had  been  so  closely  invested,  when  they  knew  that  the 
hostile  monarch  lay  dead  in  his  camp,  determined  among 
themselves  that  no  hostile  movement  should  be  made  against 
the  Christians.  The  day  on  which  the  camp  was  broken  up, 
and  the  army  departed,  bearing  the  corpse  of  Alfonzo,  the 
Moors  issued  in  multitudes  from  Gibraltar,  and  stood  mute 
and  melancholy,  watching  the  mournful  pageant.2  The  same 
reverence  for  the  deceased  was  observed  by  all  the  Moorish 
commanders  on  the  frontiers,  who  suffered  the  funeral  train  to 

1  greatness  of  mind.  3  showy  spectacle  or  procession. 


SO  YUSEF   ABIJL   HAGIG. 

pass  in  safety,  bearing  the  corpse  of  the  Christian  sovereign 
from  Gibraltar  to  Seville. 

Yusef  did  not  long  survive  the  enemy  he  had  so  generously 
deplored.  In  the  year  1354,  as  he  was  one  day  praying  in  the 
royal  mosque  of  the  Alhambra,  a  maniac  rushed  suddenly 
from  behind,  and  plunged  a  dagger  in  his  side.  The  cries  of 
the  king  brought  his  guards  and  courtiers  to  his  assistance. 
They  found  him  weltering  in  his  blood.  He  made  some  signs 
as  if  to  speak,  but  his  words  were  unintelligible.  They  bore 
him  senseless  to  the  royal  apartments,  where  he  expired  almost 
immediately.  The  murderer  was  cut  to  pieces,  and  his  limbs 
burnt  in  public,  to  gratify  the  fury  of  the  populace. 

The  body  of  the  king  was  interred  in  a  superb  sepulchre  of 
white  marble;  a  long  epitaph,  in  letters  of  gold  upon  an  azure 
ground,  recorded  his  virtues.  "  Here  lies  a  king  and  martyr, 
of  an  illustrious  line,  gentle,  learned,  and  virtuous;  renowned 
for  the  graces  of  his  person  and  his  manners ;  whose  clemency, l 
piety,  and  benevolence  were  extolled  throughout  the  kingdom 
of  Granada.  He  was  a  great  prince,  an  illustrious  captain,  a 
sharp  sword  of  the  Moslems,  a  valiant  standard-bearer  among 
the  most  potent  monarchs,"  etc. 

The  mosque  still  exists  which  once  resounded  with  the  dying 
cries  of  Yusef,  but  the  monument  which  recorded  his  virtues 
has  long  since  disappeared.  His  name,  however,  remains 
inscribed  among  the  delicate  and  graceful  ornaments  of  the 
Alhambra,  and  will  be  perpetuated 2  in  connection  with  this 
renowned  pile,  which  it  was  his  pride  and  delight  to  beautify. 

1  mildness.  s  made  lasting. 


PANORAMA1   FROM  THE   TOWER  OF   COMARES. 

IT  is  a  serene  and  beautiful  morning;  the  sun  has  not  gained 
sufficient  power  to  destroy  the  freshness  of  the  night.  What 
a  morning  to  mount  to  the  summit  of  the  Tower  of  Comares, 
and  take  a  bird's-eye  view  of  Granada  and  its  environs! 

Come,  then,  worthy  reader  and  comrade,  follow  my  steps  into 
this  vestibule,  ornamented  with  rich  tracery,  which  opens  into 
the  Hall  of  Ambassadors.  We  will  not  enter  the  hall,  how 
ever,  but  turn  to  this  small  door  opening  into  the  wall.  Have 
a  care!  Here  are  steep,  winding  steps  and  but  scanty  light; 
yet  up  this  narrow,  obscure>  and  spiral  staircase  the  proud 
monarchs  of  Granada  and  their  queens  have  often  ascended  to 
the  battlements  to  watch  the  approach  of  invading  armies,  or 
gaze,  with  anxious  hearts,  on  the  battles  in  the  Vega. 

At  length  we  have  reached  the  terraced  roof,  and  may  take 
breath  for  a  moment,  while  we  cast  a  general  eye  over  the 
splendid  panorama  of  city  and  country;  of  rocky  mountain, 
verdant  valley,  and  fertile  plain;  of  castle,  cathedral,  Moorish 
towers  and  Gothic  domes,  crumbling  ruins  and  blooming 
groves.  Let  us  approach  the  battlements,  and  cast  our  eyes 
immediately  below.  See,  on  this  side  we  have  the  whole  plain 
of  the  Alhambra  laid  open  to  us,  and  can  look  down  into  its 
courts  and  gardens.  At  the  foot  of  the  tower  is  the  Court  of 
the  Alberca,  with  its  great  tank  or  fish-pool  bordered  with 
flowers;  and  yonder  is  the  Court  of  Lions,  with  its  famous 
fountain  and  its  light  Moorish  arcades;2  and  in  the  centre  of 
the  pile  is  the  little  garden  of  Lindaraxa,  buried  in  the  heart  of 
the  building,  with  its  roses  and  citrons,  and  shrubbery  of  em 
erald  green. 

That  belt  of  battlements,  studded  with  square  towers,  strag- 

complete  view.  2a  series  of  arches  supported  by  columns. 


32     PAKORAMA  FROM  THE  T  )WER  OF  COMARES. 

gling  round  the  whole  brow  of  the  hill,  is  the  outer  boundary 
of  the  fortress.  Some  of  the  towers,  you  may  perceive,  are 
in  ruins,  and  their  massive  fragments  buried  among  vines,  fig- 
trees,  and  aloes. 

Let  us  look  on  this  northern  side  of  the  tower.  It  is  a  giddy 
height;  the  very  foundations  of  the  tower  rise  above  the 
groves  of  the  steep  hillside.  And  see !  a  long  fissure  1  in  the 
massive  walls  shows  that  the  tower  has  been  rent  by  some  of 
the  earthquakes  which  from  time  to  time  have  thrown  Gra 
nada  into  consternation,  and  which,  sooner  or  later,  must 
reduce  this  crumbling  pile  to  a  mere  mass  of  ruin.  The  deep, 
narrow  glen  below  us,  which  gradually  widens  as  it  opens  from 
the  mountains,  is  the  valley  of  the  Darro;  you  see  the  little 
river  winding  its  way  under  embowered  terraces,  and'  among 
orchards  and  flower  gardens.  It  is  a  stream  famous  in  old 
times  for  yielding  gold,  and  its  sands  are  still  sifted  occasion 
ally,  in  search  of  the  precious  ore.  Some  of  those  white  pavil 
ions,2  which  here  and  there  gleam  from  among  groves  and 
vineyards,  were  rustic  retreats  of  the  Moors,  to  enjoy  the 
refreshment  of  their  gardens.  Well  have  they  been  compared 
by  one  of  their  poets-  to  so  many  pearls  set  in  a  bed  of  emer 
alds. 

The  airy  palace,  with  its  tall  white  towers  and  long  arcades, 
which  breasts  yon  mountain,  among  pompous  groves  and  hang 
ing  gardens,  is  the  Generalife,3  a  summer  palace  of  the  Moorish 
kings,  to  which  they  resorted  during  the  sultry  months  to 
enjoy  a  still  more  breezy  region  than  that  of  the  Alhambra. 
The  naked  summit  of  the  height  above  it,  where  you  behold 
some  shapeless  ruins,  is  the  Silla  del  Moro,  or  Seat  of  the 
Moor,  so  called  from  having  been  a  retreat  of  the  unfortunate 
Boabdil  during  the  time  of  an  insurrection,  where  he  seated 
himself,  and  looked  down  mournfully  upon  his  rebellious  city. 

A  murmuring  sound  of  water  now  and  then  rises  from  the 

1  opening  ;  cleft.  3  on  the  side  of  the  mountain,  high  above 

2  summer-housee.  the  Alhambra. 


PANORAMA    FROM   THE  TOWER   OP   COMARES.  33 

valley.  It  is  from  the  aqueduct  of  you  Moorish  mill,  nearly  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill.  The  avenue  of  trees  beyond  is  the  Ala- 
meda,  along  the  bank  of  the  Darro,  a  favorite  resort  in  even* 
ings,  and  a  rendezvous  of  lovers  in  the  summer  nights,  when 
the  guitar  may  be  heard  at  a  late  hour  from  the  benches  along 
its  walks.  At  present  you  see  none  but  a  few  loitering  monks 
there,  and  a  group  of  water-carriers.  The  latter  are  burdened 
with  water-jars  of  ancient  Oriental  construction,  such  as  were 
used  by  the  Moors.  They  have  been  filled  at  the  cold  and 
limpid  spring  called  the  Fountain  of  Avellanos.  Yon  moun 
tain  path  leads  to  the  fountain,  a  favorite  resort  of  Moslems,  as 
well  as  Christians;  for  this  is  said  to  be  the  Adinamar  (Aynu- 
1-adamar),  the  "Fountain  of  Tears,"  mentioned  by  Ibn  Bat- 
uta  the  traveller,  and  celebrated  in  the  histories  and  romances 
of  the  Moors. 

You  start!  'Tis  nothing  but  a  hawk  that  we  have  frightened 
from  his  nest.  This  old  tower  is  a  complete  breeding-place  for 
vagrant  birds;  the  swallow  and  martlet l  abound  in  every  chink 
and  cranny,  and  circle  about  it  the  whole  day  long;  while  at 
night,  when  all  other  birds  have  gone  to  rest,  the  moping  owl 
comes  out  of  its  lurking-place,  and  utters  its  boding 2  cry  from 
the  battlements.  See  how  the  hawk  we  have  dislodged  sweeps 
away  below  us,  skimming  over  the  tops  of  the  trees,  and  sail 
ing  up  to  the  ruins  above  the  Generalife. 

I  see  you  raise  your  eyes  to  the  snowy  summit  of  yon  pile  of 
mountains,  shining  like  a  white  summer  cloud  in  the  blue  sky. 
It  is  the  Sierra  Nevada,  the  pride  and  delight  of  Granada;  the 
source  of  her  cooling  breezes  and  perpetual  verdure;  of  her 
gushing  fountains  and  perennial 3  streams.  It  is  this  glorious 
pile  of  mountains  which  gives  to  Granada  that  combination  of 
delights  so  rare  in  a  southern  city — the  fresh  vegetation  and 
temperate  airs  of  a  northern  climate,  with  the  vivifying 4  ardor 
of  a  tropical  sun,  and  the  cloudless  azure  of  a  southern  sky. 

1  a  kind  of  swallow.  3  through  the  year  ;  unfailing. 

8  foreshowing  or  threatening  ill.  *  animating  ;  enduing  with  life. 

3 


84  PANORAMA   FROM   THE   TOWER   OF   COMARES. 

It  is  this  aerial  treasury  of  snow,  which,  melting  in  proportion 
to  the  increase  of  the  summer  heat,  sends  down  rivulets  and 
streams  through  every  glen  and  gorge  of  the  Alpuxaras,  dif 
fusing  emerald  verdure  and  fertility  throughout  a  chain  of 
happy  and  sequestered  '  valleys. 

Those  mountains  may  be  well  called  the  glory  of  Granada. 
They  dominate  the  whole  extent  of  Andalusia,  and  may  be 
seen  from  its  most  distant  parts.  The  muleteer  hails  them, 
as  he  views  their  frosty  peaks  from  the  sultry  level  of  the 
plain;  and  the  Spanish  mariner,  on  the  deck  of  his  bark,  far, 
far  off  on  the  bosom  of  the  blue  Mediterranean,  watches  them 
with  a  pensive  eye,  thinks  of  delightful  Granada,  and  chants, 
in  low  voice,  some  old  romance  about  the  Moors. 

See  to  the  south,  at  the  foot  of  those  mountains,  a  line  of 
arid 3  hills,  down  which  a  long  train  of  mules  is  slowly  moving. 
Here  was  the  closing  scene  of  Moslem  domination.  From  the 
summit  of  one  of  those  hills  the  unfortunate  Boabdil  cast 
back  his  last  look  upon  Granada,  and  gave  vent  to  the  agony 
of  his  soul.  It  is  the  spot  famous  in  song  and  story,  "The 
last  sigh  of  the  Moor." 

Farther  this  way  these  arid  hills  slope  down  into  the  luxu 
rious  Vega,  from  which  he  had  just  emerged — a  blooming  wil 
derness  of  grove  and  garden  and  teeming  orchard,  with  the 
Xenil  winding  through  it  in  silver  links,  and  feeding  innu 
merable  rills;  which,  conducted  through  ancient  Moorish 
channels,  maintain  the  landscape  in  perpetual  verdure.  Here 
were  the  beloved  bowers  and  gardens  and  rural  pavilions,  for 
which  the  unfortunate  Moors  fought  with  such  desperate  valor. 
The  very  hovels  and  rude  granges,3  now  inhabited  by  boors,4 
show,  by  the  remains  of  arabesques  &  and  other  tasteful  deco 
ration,  that  they  were  elegant  residences  in  the  days  of  the 
Moslems.  Behold,  in  the  very  centre  of  this  eventful  plain, 

1  secluded  ;  hidden.  4  peasants  ;  rustics. 

3  parched  with  heat  6  decorations  after    the    manner  of    the 

3  farm-houses.  Arabians. 


PANORAMA    FROM   THE   TOWER   OF   COMARES.  i?7 

a  place  which  in  a  manner  links  the  history  of  the  Old  World 
with  that  of  the  New.  Yon  line  of  walls  and  towers  gleaming 
in  the  morning  sun  is  the  city  of  Santa  Fe,  built  by  the  Catho 
lic  sovereigns  during  the  siege  of  Granada,  after  a  conflagra 
tion  had  destroyed  their  camp.  It  was  to  these  walls  Columbus 
was  called  back  by  the  heroic  queen,1  and  within  them  the 
treaty  was  concluded  which  led  to  the  discovery  of  the  West 
ern  world.  Behind  yon  promontory,  to  the  west,  is  the  Bridge 
of  Pinos,  renowned  for  many  a  bloody  fight  between  Moors 
and  Christians.  At  this  bridge  the  messenger  overtook  Co 
lumbus  when,  despairing  of  success  with  the  Spanish  sover 
eigns,  he  was  departing  to  carry  his  project  of  discovery  to 
the  court  of  France. 

Above  the  bridge  a  range  of  mountains  bounds  the  Vega  to 
the  west — the  ancient  barrier  between  Granada  and  the  Chris 
tian  territories.  Among  their  heights  you  may  still  discern 
warrior  towns,  their  gray  walls  and  battlements  seeming  of  a 
piece  with  the  rocks  on  which  they  are  built.  Here  and  there 
a  solitary  atalaya,  or  watch-tower,  perched  on  a  mountain 
peak,  looks  down,  as  it  were  from  the  sky,  into  the  valley  on 
either  side.  How  often  have  these  atalayas  given  notice,  by 
fire  at  night  or  smoke  by  day,  of  an  approaching  foe!  It  was 
down  a  cragged  defile  of  these  mountains,  called  the  Pass  of 
Lope,  that  the  Christian  armies  descended  into  the  Vega. 
Round  the  base  of  yon  gray  and  naked  mountain  (the  Moun 
tain  of  Elvira),  stretching  its  bold,  rocky  promontory  into  the 
bosom  of  the  plain,  the  invading  squadron  would  come  burst 
ing  into  view,  with  flaunting  banners  and  clangor  of  drum  and 
trumpet. 

Five  hundred  years  have  elapsed  since  Ismael  ben  Ferrag, 
a  Moorish  king  in  Granada,  beheld  from  this  very  tower  an 
invasion  of  the  kind,  and  an  insulting  ravage  of  the  Vega; 
on  which  occasion  he  displayed  an  instance  of  chivalrous  mag 
nanimity,  often  witnessed  in  the  Moslem  princes,  "whose 

>  Isabella. 


PANORAMA    FROM    THE   TOWER   OF    COMARES. 

history,"  says  an  Arabian  writer,  "abounds  in  generous 
actions  and  noble  deeds  that  will  last  through  all  succeeding 
ages,  and  live  forever  in  the  memory  of  man." — But  let  us 
sit  down  on  this  parapet,  and  I  will  relate  the  anecdote. 

It  was  in  the  year  of  Grace  1319  that  Ismael  ben  Ferrag 
beheld  from  this  tower  a  Christian  camp  whitening  the  skirts 
of  yon  Mountain  of  Elvira.  The  royal  princes  Don  Juan  and 
Don  Pedro,  regents  of  Castile  during  the  minority  of  Alfonzo 
XL,  had  already  laid  waste  the  country  from  Alcaudete1  to 
Alcala  la  Real,2  capturing  the  castle  of  Illora,  and  setting  fire 
to  its  suburbs,  and  they  now  carried  their  insulting  ravages  to 
the  very  gates  of  Granada,  defying  the  king  to  sally  forth  and 
give  them  battle. 

Ismael,  though  a  young  and  intrepid  prince,  hesitated  to 
accept  the  challenge.  He  had  not  sufficient  force  at  hand, 
and  awaited  the  arrival  of  troops  summoned  from  the  neigh 
boring  towns.  The  Christian  princes,  mistaking  his  motives, 
gave  up  all  hope  of  drawing  him  forth,  and,  having  glutted 
themselves  with  ravage,  struck  their  tents  and  began  their 
homeward  march.  Don  Pedro  led  the  van,  and  Don  Juan 
brought  up  the  rear;  but  their  march  was  confused  and  irreg 
ular,  the  army  being  greatly  encumbered  by  the  spoils  and 
captives  they  had  taken. 

By  this  time  King  Ismael  had  received  his  expected  re 
sources,  and  putting  them  under  the  command  of  Osmyn,  one 
of  the  bravest  of  his  generals,  sent  them  forth  in  hot  pur 
suit  of  the  enemy.  The  Christians  were  overtaken  in  the 
defiles  of  the  mountains.  A  panic  seized  them;  they  were 
completely  routed,  and  driven  with  great  slaughter  across  the 
borders.  Both  of  the  princes  lost  their  lives.  The  body  of 
Don  Pedro  was  carried  off  by  his  soldiers,  but  that  of  Don 
Juan  was  lost  in  the  darkness  of  the  night*  His  son  wrote  to 
the  Moorish  king,  entreating  that  the  body  of  his  father  might 

1  town  in  Andalusia,  twenty-four  miles         2  town  in  Andalusia,  thirty  miles  eouth- 
southwest  of  Jaen.  west  of  Jaen. 


PANORAMA   FROM   THE   TOWER  OF   COMARES.  37 

be  sought  and  honorably  treated.  Ismael  forgot  in  a  moment 
that  Don  Juan  was  an  enemy,  who  had  carried  ravage  and 
insult  to  the  very  gate  of  his  capital;  he  only  thought  of  him 
as  a  gallant  cavalier  and  a  royal  prince.  By  his  command 
diligent  search  was  made  for  the  body.  It  was  found  in  a 
barranco '  and  brought  to  Granada.  There  Ismael  caused  it 
to  be  laid  out  in  state  on  a  lofty  bier,  surrounded  by  torches 
and  tapers,  in  one  of  these  halls  of  the  Alhambra.  Osmyn 
and  other  of  the  noblest  cavaliers  were  appointed  as  a  guard 
of  honor,  and  Christian  captives  were  assembled  to  pray 
around  it. 

In  the  mean  time  Ismael  wrote  to  the  son  of  Prince  Juan 
to  send  a  convoy  for  the  body,  assuring  him  it  should  be 
safely  delivered  up.  In  due  time  a  band  of  Christian  cava 
liers  arrived  for  the  purpose.  They  were  honorably  received 
and  entertained  by  Ismael,  and,  on  their  departure  with  the 
body,  the  guard  of  honor  of  Moslem  cavaliers  escorted  the 
funeral  train  to  the  frontier. 

But  enough;  the  sun  is  high  above  the  mountains,  and 
pours  his  full  fervor  on  our  heads.  Already  the  terraced  roof 
is  hot  beneath  our  feet;  let  us  abandon  it,  and  refresh  our 
selves  under  the  arcades  by  the  Fountain  of  the  Lions. 

1  slope  of  steep  bank. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY. 

JUST  within  the  fortress  of  the  Alhambra,  in  front  of  the 
royal  palace,  is  a  broad  open  esplanade,  called  the  Place  or 
Square  of  the  Cisterns,  so  called  from  being  undermined  by 
reservoirs  of  water,  hidden  from  sight,  and  which  have  existed 
from  the  time  of  the  Moors.  At  one  corner  of  this  esplanade 
is  a  Moorish  well,  cut  through  the  living  rock  to  a  great  depth, 
the  water  of  which  is  cold  as  ice  and  clear  as  crystal.  The 
wells  made  by  the  Moors  are  always  in  repute,  for  it  is  well 
known  what  pains  they  took  to  penetrate  to  the  purest  and 
sweetest  springs  and  fountains.  The  one  of  which  we  now 
speak  is  famous  throughout  Granada,  insomuch  that  water- 
carriers,  some  bearing  great  water- jars  on  their  shoulders, 
others  driving  asses  before  them  laden  with  earthen  vessels,  are 
ascending  and  descending  the  steep  woody  avenues  of  the 
Alhambra,  from  early  dawn  until  a  late  hour  of  the  night. 

Fountains  and  wells,  ever  since  the  scriptural  days,  have 
been  noted  gossiping  places  in  hot  climates;  and  at  the  well 
in  question  there  is  a  kind  of  perpetual  club  kept  up  during 
the  livelong  day,  by  the  invalids,  old  women,  and  other  curi 
ous  do-nothing  folk  of  the  fortress,  who  sit  here  on  the  stone 
benches,  under  an  awning  spread  over  the  well  to  shelter  the 
toll-gatherer  from  the  sun,  and  dawdle  over  the  gossip  of  the 
fortress,  and  question  every  water-carrier  that  arrives  about 
the  news  of  the  city,  and  make  long  comments  on  every  thing 
they  hear  and  see.  Not  an  hour  of  the  day  but  loitering 
housewives  and  idle  maid-servants  may  he  seen,  lingering  with 
pitcher  on  head  or  in  hand,  to  hear  the  last,  of  the  endless 
tattle  of  these  worthies. 

Among  the  water-carriers  Avho  once  resorted  to  this  well, 


LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY.          39 

there  was  a  sturdy,  strong-backed,,  bandy-legged  little  fellow, 
named  Pedro  Gil,  but  called  Peregil  for  shortness.  Being  a 
water-carrier,  he  was  a  Gallego,  or  native  of  Galicia,1  of  course. 
Nature  seems  to  have  formed  races  of  men,  as  she  has  of  ani 
mals,  for  different  kinds  of  drudgery.  In  France  the  shoe 
blacks  are  all  Savoyards,2  the  porters  of  hotels  all  Swiss,  and 
in  the  days  of  hoops  and  hair-powder  in  England,  no  man 
could  give  the  regular  swing  to  a  sedan-chair  but  a  bog-trot 
ting  Irishman.  So  in  Spain,  the  carriers  of  water  and  bearers 
of  burdens  are  all  sturdy  little  natives  of  Galicia.  No  man 
says,  "  Get  me  a  porter,"  but,  "  Call  a  Gallego." 

To  return  from  this  digression,3  Peregil  the  Gallego  had 
begun  business  with  merely  a  great  earthen  jar  which  he  car 
ried  upon  his  shoulder;  by  degrees  he  rose  in  the  world,  and 
was  enabled  to  purchase  an  assistant  of  a  correspondent  class 
of  animals,  being  a  stout  shaggy-haired  donkey.  On  each 
side  of  this  his  long-eared  aid-de-camp,4  in  a  kind  of  pannier,5 
were  slung  his  water-jars,  covered  with  fig-leaves  to  protect 
them  from  the  sun.  There  was  not  a  more  industrious  water- 
carrier  in  all  Granada,  nor  one  more  merry  withal.  The 
streets  rang  with  his  cheerful  voice  as  he  trudged  after  his 
donkey,  singing  forth  the  usual  summer  note  that  resounds 
through  the  Spanish  towns:  "  Who  wants  water — water  colder 
than  snow  ?  Who  wants  water  from  the  well  of  the  Alhambra, 
cold  as  ice  and  clear  as  crystal?"  When  he  served  a  cus 
tomer  with  a  sparkling  glass,  it  was  always  with  a  pleasant 
word  that  caused  a  smile;  and  if,  perchance,  it  was  a  comely 
dame  or  dimpling  damsel,  it  was  always  with  a  sly  leer  and  a 
compliment  to  her  beauty  that  was  irresistible.  Thus  Peregil 
the  Gallego  was  noted  throughout  all  Granada  for  being  one 
of  the  civilest,  pleasantest,  and  happiest  of  mortals.  Yet  it  is 
not  he  who  sings  loudest  and  jokes  most  that  has  the  lightest 

1  province  in  northwest  of  Spain.  « (aid-de-kong),  assistant.    (In  the  army,  a 

a  natives  of  Savoy,  a  department  of  France  general's  confidential  subordinate  officer.) 

adjoining  Switzerland.  6  wicker  basket  nsed  for  carrying  bread, 

'  wandering  from  the  subject.  fruit,  etc.,  upon  a  horse. 


tfcO  LEGEND    OF   THE    MOORS    LEGACY. 

heart.  Under  all  this  air  of  merriment,  honest  Peregil  had 
his  cares  and  troubles.  He  had  a  large  family  of  ragged  chil 
dren  to  support,  who  were  hungry  and  clamorous  x  as  a  nest  of 
young  swallows,  and  beset  him  with  their  outcries  for  food 
whenever  he  came  home  of  an  evening.  He  had  a  helpmate, 
too,  who  was  anything  but  a  help  to  him.  She  had  been  a 
village  beauty  before  marriage,  noted  for  her  skill  at  dancing 
the  bolero2  and  rattling  the  castanets; 3  and  she  still  retained 
her  early  propensities,4  spending  the  hard  earnings  of  honest 
Peregil  in  frippery,  and  laying  the  very  donkey  under  requisi 
tion  for  junketing5  parties  into  the  country  on  Sundays,  and 
saints'  days,  and  those  innumerable  holidays  which  are  rather 
more  numerous  in  Spain  than  the  days  of  the  week.  With  all 
this  she  was  a  little  of  a  slattern,6  something  more  of  a  lie-abed, 
and,  above  all,  a  gossip  of  the  first  water;  neglecting  house, 
household,  and  every  thing  else,  to  loiter  slipshod  in  the  houses 
of  her  gossip  neighbors. 

He,  however,  who  tempers  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb, 
accommodates  the  yoke  of  matrimony  to  the  submissive  neck. 
Peregil  bore  all  the  heavy  dispensations  of  wife  and  children 
with  as  meek  a  spirit  as  his  donkey  bore  the  water-jars;  and, 
however  he  might  shake  his  ears  in  private,  never  ventured 
to  question  the  household  virtues  of  his  slattern  spouse. 

He  loved  his  children,  too,  even  as  an  owl  loves  its  owlets, 
seeing  in  them  his  own  image  multiplied  and  perpetuated ;  for 
they  were  a  sturdy,  long-backed,  bandy-legged  little  brood. 
The  great  pleasure  of  honest  Peregil  was,  whenever  he  could 
afford  himself  a  scanty  holiday,  and  had  a  handful  of  mara- 
vedis 7  to  spare,  to  take  the  whole  litter  forth  with  him,  some 
in  his  arms,  some  tugging  at  his  skirts,  and  some  trudging  at 

1  noisy.  beaten  together  with  the  middle  finger,  as 

2  (from  bola,  ball),   a  favorite  dance  in  an  accompaniment  to  dancing. 
Spain.  4  inclinations. 

3  two  small,  concave  shells  of  ivory  or  6  merry  excursion. 

hard   wood,  fastened   to  the  thumb,  and        6  woman  negligent  of  dress  or  house. 
7  small  copper  coins,  each  worth  three  mills  American  money. 


LEGEND   OF   THE    MOOR'S   LEGACY.  41 

his  heels,  and  to  treat  them  to  a  gambol '  among  the  orchards 
of  the  Vega,  while  his  wife  was  dancing  with  her  holiday 
friends  in  the  Angosturas2  of  the  Darro. 

It  was  a  late  hour  one  summer  night,  and  most  of  the  water- 
carriers  had  desisted  from  their  toils.  The  day  had  been 
uncommonly  sultry ;  the  night  was  one  of  those  delicious  moon 
lights,  which  tempt  the  inhabitants  of  southern  climes  to 
indemnify3  themselves  for  the  heat  and  inaction  of  the  day, 
by  lingering  in  the  open  air,  and  enjoying  its  tempered  sweet 
ness  until  after  midnight.  Customers  for  water  were  there 
fore  still  abroad.  Peregil,  like  a  considerate,  painstaking 
father,  thought  of  his  hungry  children. 

"One  more  journey  to  the  well,"  said  he  to  himself,  "to 
earn  a  Sunday's  puchero4  for  the  little  ones."  So  saying,  he 
trudged  manfully  up  the  steep  avenue  of  the  Alhambra,  sing 
ing  as  he  went,  and  now  and  then  bestowing  a  hearty  thwack 
with  a  cudgel  on  the  flanks  of  his  donkey,  either  by  way  of 
cadence5  to  the  song,  or  refreshment  to  the  animal;  for  dry 
blows  serve  in  lieu  of  provender  in  Spain  for  all  beasts  of 
burden. 

When  arrived  at  the  well,  he  found  it  deserted  by  every  one, 
except  a  solitary  stranger  in  Moorish  garb  seated  on  a  stone 
bench  in  the  moonlight.  Peregil  paused  at  first  and  regarded 
him  with  surprise,  not  unmixed  with  awe,  but  the  Moor  feebly 
beckoned  him  to  approach.  ''I  am  faint  and  ill,"  said  he; 
"aid  me  to  return  to  the  city,  and  I  will  pay  thee  double 
what  tliou  couldst  gain  by  thy  jars  of  water." 

The  honest  heart  of  the  little  water-carrier  was  touched  with 
compassion6  at  the  appeal  of  the  stranger.  "God  forbid," 
said  he,  "that  I  should  ask  fee  or  reward  fordoing  a  com 
mon  act  of  humanity."  He  accordingly  helped  the  Moor  on 
his  donkey,  and  set  off  slowly  for  Granada,  the  poor  Moslem 

1  frolic.  *  regular  daily  dinner. 

2  narrow  valleys.  6  regular  modulation  of  sound. 

3  compensate  for  harm  or  loss.  *  pity. 


42          LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY. 

being  so  weak  that  it  was  necessary  to  hold  him  on  the  ani 
mal  to  keep  him  from  falling  to  the  earth. 

When  they  entered  the  city,  the  water-carrier  demanded 
whither  he  should  conduct  him.  "  Alas  !  "  said  the  Moor, 
faintly,  "  I  have  neither  home  nor  habitation;  I  am  a  stranger 
in  the  land.  Suffer  me  to  lay  my  head  this  night  beneath  thy 
roof,  and  thou  shalt  be  amply  repaid." 

Honest  Peregil  thus  saw  himself  unexpectedly  saddled  with 
an  infidel  guest,  but  he  was  too  humane  to  refuse  a  night's 
shelter  to  a  fellow  being  in  so  forlorn  a  plight,  so  he  conducted 
the  Moor  to  his  dwelling.  The  children,  who  had  sallied  forth 
open-mouthed,  as  usual,  on  hearing  the  tramp  of  the  donkey, 
ran  back  with  affright,  when  they  beheld  the  turbaned 
stranger,  and  hid  themselves  behind  their  mother.  The  latter 
stepped  forth  intrepidly,  like  a  ruffling  hen  before  her  brood 
when  a  vagrant  dog  approaches. 

"What  infidel  companion,"  cried  she,  "is  this  you  have 
brought  home  at  this  late  hour,  to  draw  upon  us  the  eyes  of 
the  inquisition  ?  " 

"  Be  quiet,  wife,"  replied  the  Gallego;  "  here  is  a  poor  sick 
stranger,  without  friend  or  home;  wouldst  thou  turn  him 
forth  to  perish  in  the  streets  ?  " 

The  wife  would  still  have  remonstrated,  for  although  she 
lived  in  a  hovel,  she  was  a  furious  stickler  for  the  credit  of  her 
house;  the  little  water-carrier,  however,  for  once  was  stiff- 
necked,  and  refused  to  bend  beneath  the  yoke.  He  assisted 
the  poor  Moslem  to  alight,  and  spread  a  mat  and  a  sheep-skin 
for  him  on  the  ground  in  the  coolest  part  of  the  house,  being 
the  only  kind  of  bed  that  his  poverty  afforded. 

In  a  little  while  the  Moor  was  seized  with  violent  convul 
sions,  which  defied  all  the  ministering  skill  of  the  simple  water- 
carrier.  The  eye  of  the  poor  patient  acknowledged  his  kind 
ness.  During  an  interval  of  his  fits  he  called  him  to  his  side, 
and  addressing  him  in  alow  voice,  "My  end,"  said  he,  "1 

i  court  established  for  punishment  of  heretics, 


LEGEND  OF  THE  MOORS  LEGACY.  3 

fear,  is  at  hand.  If  I  die,  I  bequeath  you  this  box  as  a  reward 
for  your  charity:  "  so  saying,  he  opened  his  albornoz,  or  cloak; 
and  showed  a  small  box  of  sandal-wood  strapped  round  his 
body.  "God  grant,  my  friend,"  replied  the  worthy  little 
Gallego,  "  that  you  may  live  many  years  to  en  joy  your  treasure, 
whatever  it  may  be."  The  Moor  shook  his  head;  he  laid  his 
hand  upon  the  box,  and  would  have  said  something  more  con 
cerning  it,  but  his  convulsions  returned  with  increasing  vio 
lence,  and  in  a  little  while  he  expired. 

The  water-carrier's  wife  was  now  as  one  distracted.1  "  This 
comes,"  said  she,  "of  your  foolish  good  nature,  always  run 
ning  into  scrapes  to  oblige  others.  What  will  become  of  us 
when  this  corpse  is  found  in  our  house  ?  We  shall  be  sent  to 
prison  as  murderers;  and  if  we  escape  with  our  lives,  shall  be 
ruined  by  notaries  and  alguazils."2 

Poor  Peregil  was  in  equal  tribulation,  and  almost  repented 
himself  of  having  done  a  good  deed.  At  length  a  thought 
struck  him.  "It  is  not  yet  day,"  said  he;  "I  can  convey 
the  dead  body  out  of  the  city,  and  bury  it  in  the  sands  on  the 
banks  of  the  Xenil. 3  No  one  saw  the  Moor  enter  our  dwel 
ling,  and  no  one  will  know  anything  of  his  death." 

So  said,  so  done.  The  wife  aided  him;  they  rolled  the  body 
of  the  unfortunate  Moslem  in  the  mat  on  which  he  had  expired, 
laid  it  across  the  ass,  and  Peregil  set  out  with  it  for  the  banks 
of  the  river. 

As  ill  luck  would  have  it,  there  lived  opposite  to  the  water- 
carrier  a  barber  named  Pedrillo  Pedrugo,  one  of  the  most  pry 
ing,  tattling,  and  mischief-making  of  his  gossip  tribe.  He 
was  a  weasel-faced,  spider-legged  varlet,  supple  and  insinuat 
ing;  the  famous  barber  of  Seville  could  not  surpass  him  for  his 
universal  knowledge  of  the  affairs  of  others,  and  he  had  no 
more  power  of  retention  4  thun  a  sieve.  It  was  said  that  he 
slept  but  with  one  eye  at  a  time,  and  kept  one  ear  uncovered, 

1  crazed.  J  a  southern  branch  of  the  Guadalquivir, 

*  those  authorized  to  make  arrests.  4  keeping  or  holding. 


44          LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOlVs  LEGACY. 

so  that,  even  in  his  sleep,  he  might  see  and  hear  all  that  was 
going  on.  Certain  it  is,  he  was  a  sort  of  scandalous  chronicle 
for  the  quid-nuncs '  of  Granada,  and  had  more  customers  than 
all  the  rest  of  his  fraternity. a 

This  meddlesome  barber  heard  Peregil  arrive  at  an  unusual 
hour  at  night,  and  the  exclamations. of  his  wife  and  children. 
His  head  was  instantly  popped  out  of  a  little  window  which 
served  him  as  a  look-out,  and  he  saw  his  neighbor  assist  a  man 
in  Moorish  garb  into  his  dwelling.  This  was  so  strange  an 
occurrence,  that  Pedrillo  Pedrugo  slept  not  a  wink  that  night. 
Every  five  minutes  he  was  at  his  loophole,  watching  the  lights 
that  gleamed  through  the  chinks  of  his  neighbor's  door,  and 
before  daylight  he  beheld  Peregil  sally  forth  with  his  donkey 
unusually  laden. 

The  inquisitive3  barber  was  in  a  fidget;  he  slipped  on  his 
clothes,  and,  stealing  forth  silently,  followed  the  water-carrier 
at  a  distance,  until  he  saw  him  dig  a  hole  in  the  sandy  bank 
of  the  Xenil,  and  bury  something  that  had  the  appearance  of  a 
dead  body. 

The  barber  hied  him  home,  and  fidgeted  about  his  shop, 
setting  every  thing  upside  down,  until  sunrise.  He  then  took 
a  basin  under  his  arm,  and  sallied  forth  to  the  house  of  his 
daily  customer  the  alcalde.4 

The  alcalde  was  just  risen.  Pedrillo  Pedrugo  seated  him  in 
a  chair,  threw  a  napkin  round  his  neck,  put  a  basin  of  hot 
water  under  his  chin,  and  began  to  mollify 5  his  beard  with 
his  fingers. 

"Strange  doings!"  said  Pedrugo,  who  played  barber  and 
newsmonger  at  the  same  time — "  Strange  doings  !  Robbery, 
and  murder,  and  burial  all  in  one  night  !  " 

"  Hey! — how! — what  is  that  you  say?  "  cried  the  alcalde. 

"I  say,"  replied  the  barber,  rubbing  a  piece  of  soap  over 
the  nose  and  mouth  of  the  dignitary,  for  a  Spanish  barber  dis- 

1  busybodys ;  gossips.  3  inquiring  ;  curious. 

2  brotherhood.  4  judge.  5  rub  so  as  to  soften. 


LEGEND   OF  THE   MOOR'S   LEGACY.  4f> 

dains  to  employ  a  brush — "  I  say  that  Peregil  the  Gallego  has 
robbed  and  murdered  a  Moorish  Mussulman,  and  buried  him. 
this  blessed  night.  Accursed  be  the  night  for  the  same!  " 

"  But  how  do  you  know  all  this?  "  demanded  the  alcalde. 

"  Be  patient,  seflor,  and  you  shall  hear  all  about  it,"  replied 
Pedrillo,  taking  him  by  the  nose  and  sliding  a  razor  over  his 
cheek.  He  then  recounted  all  that  he  had  seen,  going  through 
both  operations  at  the  same  time,  shaving  his  beard,  washing 
his  chin,  and  wiping  him  dry  with  a  dirty  napkin,  while  he 
was  robbing,  murdering,  and  burying  the  Moslem. 

Now  it  so  happened  that  this  alcalde  was  one  of  the  most 
overbearing,  and  at  the  same  time  most  griping  and  corrupt 
curmudgeons '  in  all  Granada.  It  could  not  be  denied,  how 
ever,  that  he  set  a  high  value  upon  justice,  for  he  sold  it 
at  its  weight  in  gold.  He  presumed  the  case  in  point  to  be 
one  of  murder  and  robbery;  doubtless  there  must  be  a  rich 
spoil;  how  was  it  to  be  secured  into  the  legitimate11  hands  of 
the  law  ?  For  as  to  merely  entrapping  the  delinquent 3 — that 
would  be  feeding  the  gallows;  but  entrapping  the  booty — that 
would  be  enriching  the  judge,  and  such,  according  to  his  creed, 
was  the  great  end  of  justice.  So  thinking,  he  summoned  to 
his  presence  his  trustiest  alguazil,  a  gaunt,  hungry-looking 
varlet,  clad,  according  to  the  custom  of  his  order,  in  the 
ancient  Spanish  garb — a  broad  black  beaver  turned  up  at  its 
sides;  a  quaint  ruff;  a  small  black  cloak  dangling  from  his 
shoulders;  rusty  black  under-clothes  that  set  off  his  spare,  wiry 
frame,  while  in  his  hand  he  bore  a  slender  white  wand,  the 
dreaded  insignia  of  his  office.  Such  was  the  legal  bloodhound 
of  the  ancient  Spanish  breed,  that  he  put  upon  the  traces  of 
the  unlucky  water-carrier,  and  such  was  his  speed  and  cer 
tainty  that  he  was  upon  the  haunches  of  poor  Peregil  before 
he  had  returned  to  his  dwelling,  and  brought  both  him  and  his 
donkey  before  the  dispenser  of  justice. 

The  alcalde  bent  upon  him  one  of  the  most  terrific  frowns. 

1  (corruption  of  corn  merchant),  misers.  *  lawful.  3  offender  ;  transgressor. 


4:6          LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACV. 

"Hark  ye,  culprit  I1'  roared  he,  in  a  voice  that  made  the 
knees  of  the  little  Gallego  smite  together — "  hark  ye,  culprit! 
there  is  no  need  of  denying  thy  guilt;  every  thing  is  known  to 
me.  A  gallows  is  the  proper  reward  for  the  crime  thou  hast 
committed,  but  I  am  merciful,  and  readily  listen  to  reason. 
The  man  that  has  been  murdered  in  thy  house  was  a  Moor,  an 
infidel,  the  enemy  of  our  faith.  It  was  doubtless  in  a  fit  of 
religious  zeal  that  thou  hast  slain  him.  I  will  be  indulgent, 
therefore;  render  up  the  property  of  which  thou  hast  robbed 
him,  and  we  will  hush  the  matter  up." 

The  poor  water-carrier  called  upon  all  the  saints  to  witness 
his  innocence.  Alas  !  not  one  of  them  appeared ;  and  if  they 
had,  the  alcalde  would  have  disbelieved  the  whole  calendar. 
The  water-carrier  related  the  whole  story  of  the  dying  Moor 
with  the  straightforward  simplicity  of  truth,  but  it  was  all  in 
vain.  "Wilt  thou  persist  in  saying,"  demanded  the  judge, 
"that  this  Moslem  had  neither  gold  nor  jewels  which  were 
the  object  of  thy  cupidity  ?  "  ! 

"  As  I  hope  to  be  saved,  your  worship, ' '  replied  the  water- 
carrier,  "  he  had  nothing  but  a  small  box  of  sandal-wood  which 
he  bequeathed  to  me  in  reward  for  my  services." 

"A  box  of  sandal- wood!  a  box  of  sandal- wood!  "  exclaimed 
the  alcalde,  his  eyes  sparkling  at  the  idea  of  precious  jewels. 
"  And  where  is  this  box  ?  Where  have  you  concealed  it  ?  " 

"An'  it  please  your  grace,"  replied  the  water-carrier,  "it 
is  in  one  of  the  panniers  of  my  mule,  and  heartily  at  the  ser 
vice  of  your  worship." 

He  had  hardly  spoken  the  words  when  the  keen  alguazil 
darted  oil,  and  reappeared  in  an  instant  with  the  mysterious 
box  of  sandal-wood.  The  alcalde  opened  it  with  an  eager  and 
trembling  hand;  all  pressed  forward  to  gaze  upon  the  treasure 
it  was  expected  to  contain;  when,  to  their  disappointment, 
nothing  appeared  within,  but  a  parchment  scroll,  covered  with 
Arabic  characters,  and  an  end  of  a  waxen  taper. 

J  eager  desire. 


LEGEND  OP  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY.          47 

When  there  is  nothing  to  be  gained  by  the  conviction  of  a 
prisoner,  justice,  even  in  Spain,  is  apt  to  be  impartial.  The 
alcalde,  having  recovered  from  his  disappointment,  and  found 
that  there  was  really  no  booty  in  the  case,  now  listened  dispas 
sionately  to  the  explanation  of  the  water-carrier,  which  was 
corroborated  by  the  testimony  of  his  wife.  Being  convinced, 
therefore,  of  his  innocence,  he  discharged  him  from  arrest; 
nay,  more,  he  permitted  him  to  carry  off  the  Moor's  legacy,  the 
box  of  sandal-wood  and  its  contents,  as  the  well-merited  reward 
of  his  humanity;  but  he  retained  his  donkey  in  payment  of 
costs  and  charges. 

Behold  the  unfortunate  little  Gallego  reduced  once  more  to 
the  necessity  of  being  his  own  water-carrier,  and  trudging  up 
to  the  well  of  the  Alhambra  with  a  great  earthen  jar  upon  his 
shoulder. 

As  he  toiled  up  the  hill  in  the  heat  of  the  summer  noon, 
his  usual  good  humor  forsook  him.  "Dog  of  an  alcalde!" 
wrould  he  cry,  "to  rob  a  poor  man  of  the  means  of  his  sub 
sistence,  of  the  best  friend  he  had  in  the  world!  "  And  then 
at  the  remembrance  of  the  beloved  companion  of  his  labors, 
all  the  kindness  of  his  nature  would  break  forth.  "  Ah,  don 
key  of  my  heart!  "  would  he  exclaim,  resting  his  burden  on  a 
stone,  and  wiping  the  sweat  from  his  brow — "  Ah,  donkey  of 
my  heart !  I  warrant  me  thou  thinkest  of  thy  old  master !  I 
warrant  me  thou  missest  the  water- jars — poor  beast!  " 

To  add  to  his  afflictions,  his  wife  received  him,  on  his  return 
home,  with  whimperings  and  repinings;  she  had  clearly  the 
vantage-ground  of  him,  having  warned  him  not  to  commit  the 
egregious1  act  of  hospitality  which  had  brought  on  him  all 
these  misfortunes;  and,  like  a  knowing  woman,  she  took  every 
occasion  to  throw  her  superior  sagacity 2  in  his  teeth.  If  her 
children  lacked  food,  or  needed  a  new  garment,  she  could 
answer  with  a  sneer:  "  Go  to  your  father;  he  is  heir  to  king 

1  remarkable  ;   extraordinary.     The  word         2  wisdom  ;  shrewdness, 
is,  generally  used  in  an  ironical  sense. 


48          LEGEND  OF  THE  MODE'S  LEGACY. 

Chico  of  the  Alhambra;  ask  him  to  help  you  out  of  tlio  Moor\s 
strong  box." 

Was  ever  poor  mortal  so  soundly  punished  for  having  done 
a  good  action  ?  The  unlucky  Peregil  was  grieved  in  flesh  and 
spirit,  but  still  he  bore  meekly  with  the  railings  of  his  spouse. 
At  length,  one  evening,  when,  after  a  hot  day's  toil,  she 
taunted  him  in  the  usual  manner,  he  lost  all  patience.  He 
did  not  venture  to  retort  upon  her,  but  his  eye  rested  upon 
the  box  of  sandal-wood,  which  lay  on  a  shelf,  with  lid  half  open, 
as  if  laughing  in  mockery  at  his  vexation.  Seizing  it  up,  he 
dashed  it  with  indignation  to  the  floor.  "Unlucky  was  the 
day  that  I  ever  set  eyes  on  thee,"  he  cried,  "  or  sheltered  thy 
master  beneath  my  roof  !  " 

As  the  box  struck  the  floor,  the  lid  flew  wide  open,  and  the 
parchment  scroll  rolled  forth. 

Peregil  sat  regarding  the  scroll  for  some  time  in  moody 
silence.  At  length  rallying  his  ideas,  "  Who  knows,"  thought 
he,  "but  this  writing  may  be  of  some  importance,  as  the  Moor 
seems  to  have  guarded  it  with  such  care?"  Picking  it  up, 
therefore,  he  put  it  in  his  bosom,  and  the  next  morning,  as  ne 
was  crying  water  through  the  streets,  he  stopped  at  the  shop  of 
a  Moor,  a  native  of  Tangier,1  who  sold  trinkets  and  perfumery 
in  the  Zacatin,  and  asked  him  to  explain  the  contents. 

The  Moor  read  the  scroll  attentively,  then  stroked  his  beard 
and  smiled.  "This  manuscript,"  said  he,  "  is  a  form  of 
incantation  for  the  recovery  of  hidden  treasure  that  is  under 
the  power  of  enchantment.  It  is  said  to  have  such  virtue 
that  the  strongest  bolts  and  bars,  nay  the  adamantine 2  rock 
itself,  will  yield  before  it  !  " 

"  Bah !  "  cried  the  little  Gallego,  "  what  is  all  that  to  me  ? 
I  am  no  enchanter,  and  know  nothing  of  buried  treasure." 
So  saying,  he  shouldered  his  water-jar,  left  the  scroll  in 

1  seaport  town  of  Morocco,  in  Northern        2  hard  as  adamant,  an  extremely  hard 
Africa,  near  the  west  entrance  of  Strait  of     mineral. 
Gibraltar. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY.          49 

the  hands  of  the  Moor,,  and  trudged  forward  on  his  daily 
rounds. 

That  evening,  however,  as  he  rested  himself  about  twilight 
at  the  well  of  the  Alhambra,  he  found  a  number  of  gossips 
assembled  at  the  place,  and  their  conversation,  as  is  not  unusual 
at  that  shadowy  hour,  turned  upon  old  tales  and  traditions  of  a 
supernatural  nature.  Being  all  poor  as  rats,  they  dwelt  with 
peculiar  fondness  upon  the  popular  theme  of  enchanted  riches 
left  by  the  Moors  in  various  parts  of  the  Alhambra.  Above 
all,  they  concurred  in  the  belief  that  there  were  great  treas 
ures  buried  deep  in  the  earth  under  the  tower  of  the  seven 
floors. 

These  stories  made  an  unusual  impression  on  the  mind  of 
the  honest  Peregil,  and  they  sank  deeper  and  deeper  into  his 
thoughts  as  he  returned  alone  down  the  darkling  avenues. 
"  If,  after  all,  there  should  be  treasure  hid  beneath  that 
tower,  and  if  the  scroll  I  left  with  the  Moor  should  enable  me 
to  get  at  it  !  "  In  the  sudden  ecstasy  of  the  thought  he  had 
well-nigh  let  fall  his  water-jar. 

That  night  he  tumbled  and  tossed,  and  could  scarcely  get  a 
wink  of  sleep  for  the  thoughts  that  were  bewildering  his  brain. 
Bright  and  early  he  repaired  to  the  shop  of  the  Moor,  and  told 
him  all  that  was  passing  in  his  mind.  "  You  can  read 
Arabic,"  said  he;  "  suppose  we  go  together  to  the  tower,  and 
try  the  effect  of  the  charm ;  if  it  fails  we  are  no  worse  off  than 
before;  but  if  it  succeeds,  we  will  share  equally  all  the  treasure 
we  may  discover." 

"  Hold,"  replied  the  Moslem;  "  this  writing  is  not  sufficient 
of  itself;  it  must  be  read  at  midnight,  by  the  light  of  a  taper 
singularly  compounded  and  prepared,  the  ingredients '  of 
which  are  not  within  my  reach.  Without  such  a  taper  the 
scroll  is  of  no  avail." 

"  Say  no  more!  "  cried  the  little  Gallego;  "  I  have  such  a 
taper  at  hand,  and  will  bring  it  here  in  a  moment."  So  saying 

1  elements  entering  into  a  compound. 


50          LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY. 

he  hastened  home,  and  soon  returned  with  the  end  of  a  yellow 
wax  taper  that  he  had  found  in  the  box  of  sandal-wood. 

The  Moor  felt  it  and  smelt  of  it.  "  Here  are  rare  and  costly 
perfumes,"  said  he,  "  combined  with  this  yellow  wax.  This 
is  the  kind  of  taper  specified  in  the  scroll.  While  this  burns, 
the  strongest  walls  and  most  secret  caverns  will  remain  open. 
Woe  to  him,  however,  who  lingers  within  until  it  be  extin 
guished.  He  will  remain  enchanted  with  the  treasure." 

It  was  now  agreed  between  them  to  try  the  charm  that  very 
night.  At  a  late  hour,  therefore,  when  nothing  was  stirring 
but  bats  and  owls,  they  ascended  the  woody  hill  of  the  Alham- 
bra,  and  approached  that  awful  tower,  shrouded  by  trees  and 
rendered  formidable  by  so  many  traditionary  tales.  By  the 
light  of  a  lantern,  they  groped  their  way  through  bushes, 
and  over  fallen  stones,  to  the  door  of  a  vault  beneath  the  tower. 
With  fear  and  trembling  they  descended  a  flight  of  steps  cut 
into  the  rock.  It  led  to  an  empty  chamber,  damp  and  drear, 
from  which  another  flight  of  steps  led  to  a  deeper  vault.  In 
this  way  they  descended  four  several  flights,  leading  into  as 
many  vaults,  one  below  the  other,  but  the  floor  of  the  fourth 
was  solid ;  and  though,  according  to  tradition,  there  remained 
three  vaults  still  below,  it  was  said  to  be  impossible  to  pene 
trate  further,  the  residue  being  shut  up  by  strong  enchantment. 
The  air  of  this  vault  was  damp  and  chilly,  and  had  an  earthy 
smell,  and  the  light  scarce  cast  forth  any  rays.  They  paused 
here  for  a  time  in  breathless  suspense,  until  they  faintly  heard 
the  clock  of  the  watch-tpwer  strike  midnight;  upon  this  they 
lit  the  waxen  taper,  which  diffused  an  odor  of  myrrh  1  and 
frankincense2  and  storax.3  • 

The  Moor  began  to  read  in  a  hurried  voice.  He  had  scarce 
finished  when  there  was  a  noise  as  of  subterraneous  thunder. 
The  earth  shook,  and  the  floor,  yawning  open,  disclosed  a 

1  transparent   gum  resin,   from   Arabia,         2  a  fragrant,  aromatic  resin,  often  burned 
valued  for  its  odor  and  medicinal  proper-     as  an  incense  in  religious  services, 
ties.  3  fragrant  resin  of  reddish-brown  color. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY.          51 

flight  of  steps.  Trembling  with  awe  they  descended,  and  by 
the  light  of  the  lantern  found  themselves  in  another  vault, 
covered  with  Arabic  inscriptions.  In  the  centre  stood  a  great 
chest,  secured  with  seven  bands  of  steel,  at  each  end  of  which 
sat  an  enchanted  Moor  in  armor,  but  motionless  as  a  statue, 
being  controlled  by  the  power  of  the  incantation.  Before  the 
chest  were  several  jars  filled  with  gold  and  silver  and  precious 
stones.  In  the  largest  of  these  they  thrust  their  arms  up  to  the 
elbow,  and  at  every  dip  hauled  forth  handf uls  of  broad  yellow 
pieces  of  Moorish  gold,  or  bracelets  and  ornaments  of  the  same 
precious  metal,  while  occasionally  a  necklace  of  Oriental 
pearl  would  stick  to  their  fingers.  Still  they  trembled  and 
breathed  short  while  cramming  their  pockets  with  the  spoils, 
and  cast  many  a  fearful  glance  at  the  two  enchanted  Moors, 
who  sat  grim  and  motionless,  glaring  upon  them  with  unwink 
ing  eyes.  At  length,  struck  with  a  sudden  panic  at  some 
fancied  noise,  they  both  rushed  up  the  staircase,  tumbled  over 
one  another  into  the  upper  apartment,  overturned  and  extin 
guished  the  waxen  taper,  and  the  pavement  again  closed  with 
a  thundering  sound. 

Filled  with  dismay,  they  did  not  pause  until  they  had  groped 
their  way  out  of  the  tower,  and  beheld  the  stars  shining 
through  the  trees.  Then  seating  themselves  upon  the  grass, 
they  divided  the  spoil,  determining  to  content  themselves  for 
the  present  with  this  mere  skimming  of  the  jars,  but  to  return 
on  some  future  night  and  drain  them  to  the  bottom.  To 
make  sure  of  each  other's  good  faith,  also,  they  divided  the 
talismans  between  them,  one  retaining  the  scroll  and  the  other 
the  taper;  this  done,  they  set  off  with  light  hearts  and  well- 
lined  pockets  for  Granada. 

As  they  wended  their  way  down  the  hill,  the  shrewd  Moor 
whispered  a  word  of  counsel  in  the  ear  of  the  simple  little 
water-carrier. 

"Friend  Peregil,"  said  he,  "all  this  affair  must  be  kept  a 
profound  secret  until  we  have  secured  the  treasure,  and  con- 


52          LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY. 

veyed  it  out  of  harm's  way.  If  a  whisper  of  it  gets  to  the  ear 
of  the  alcalde,,  we  are  undone  !  " 

"Certainly,"  replied  the  Gallego;  "nothing  can  be  more 
true." 

"  Friend  Peregil,"  said  the  Moor,  "  you  area  discreet  man, 
and  I  make  no  doubt  can  keep  a  secret;  but  you  have  a  wife." 

"  She  shall  not  know  a  word  of  it,"  replied  the  little  water- 
carrier,  sturdily. 

"  Enough,"  said  the  Moor,  "  I  depend  upon  thy  discretion 
and  thy  promise." 

Never  was  promise  more  positive  and  sincere ;  but,  alas !  what 
man  can  keep  a  secret  from  his  wife  ?  Certainly  not  such  a 
one  as  Peregil  the  water-carrier,  who  was  one  of  the  most  lov 
ing  and  tractable  of  husbands.  On  his  return  home,  he  found 
his  wife  moping  in  a  corner.  "  Mighty  well,"  cried  she  as  he 
entered,  ''you've  come  at  last,  after  rambling  about  until  this 
hour  of  the  night.  I  wonder  you  have  not  brought  home 
another  Moor  as  a  house-mate."  Then  bursting  into  tears, 
she  began  to  wring  her  hands  and  smite  her  breast :  ' '  Unhappy 
woman  that  I  am!  "  exclaimed  she,  "  what  will  become  of  me  ? 
My  house  stripped  and  plundered  by  lawyers  and  algnazils; 
my  husband  a  do-no-good,  that  no  longer  brings  home  bread 
to  his  family,  but  goes  rambling  about  day  and  night,  with 
infidel  Moors!  0  my  children  !  my  children!  What  will 
become  of  us.?  We  shall  all  have  to  beg  in  the  streets  !  " 

Honest  Peregil  was  so  moved  by  the  distress  of  his  spouse, 
that  he  could  not  help  whimpering  also.  His  heart  was  as  full 
as  his  pocket,  and  not  to  be  restrained.  Thrusting  his  hand 
into  the  latter  he  hauled  forth  three  or  four  broad  gold  pieces, 
and  slipped  them  into  her  bosom.  The  poor  woman  stared 
with  astonishment,  and  could  not  understand  the  meaning  of 
this  golden  shower.  Before  she  could  recover  her  surprise, 
the  little  Gallego  drew  forth  a  chain  of  gold  and  dangled  it 
before  her,  capering  with  exultation,  his  mouth  distended 
from  ear  to  ear. 


LEGEND   OF   THE   MOOR'S   LEGACY.  53 

"  Holy  Virgin,  protect  us  !  "  exclaimed  the  wife.  "  What 
hast  thou  been  doing,  Peregil  ?  Surely  thou  hast  not  been 
committing  murder  and  robbery  !  " 

The  idea  scarce  entered  the  brain  of  the  poor  woman,  than  it 
became  a  certainty  with  her.  She  saw  a  prison  and  a  gallows 
in  the  distance,  and  a  little  bandy-legged  Gallego  hanging 
pendent1  from  it;  and,  overcome  by  the  horrors  conjured  up 
by  her  imagination,  fell  into  violent  hysterics. 

What  could  the  poor  man  do  ?  He  had  no  other  means  of 
pacifying  his  wife,  and  dispelling  the  phantoms  of  her  fancy, 
than  by  relating  the  whole  story  of  his  good  fortune.  This, 
however,  he  did  not  do  until  he  had  exacted  from  her  the 
most  solemn  promise  to  keep  it  a  profound  secret  from  every 
living  being. 

To  describe  her  joy  would  be  impossible.  She  flung  her 
arms  round  the  neck  of  her  husband,  and  almost  strangled 
him  with  her  caresses.  "Now,  wife,"  exclaimed  the  little 
man  with  honest  exultation,  "  what  say  you  now  to  the  Moor's 
legacy?  Henceforth  never  abuse  me  for  helping  a  fellow- 
creature  in  distress." 

The  honest  Gallego  retired  to  his  sheep-skin  mat,  and  slept 
as  soundly  as  if  on  a  bed  of  down.  Not  so  his  wife;  she 
emptied  the  whole  contents  of  his  pockets  upon  the  mat,  and 
sat  counting  gold  pieces  of  Arabic  coin,  trying  on  necklaces 
and  earrings,  arid  fancying  the  figure  she  should  one  day  make 
when  permitted  to  enjoy  her  riches. 

On  the  following  morning  the  honest  Gallego  took  a  broad 
golden  coin,  and  repaired  with  it  to  a  jeweller's  shop  in  the 
Zacatin  to  offer  it  for  sale,  pretending  to  have  found  it  aniong 
the  ruins  of  the  Alhambra.  The  jeweller  saw  that  it  had  an 
Arabic  inscription,  and  was  of  the  purest  gold;  he  offered, 
however,  but  a  third  of  its  value,  with  which  the  water-carrier 
was  perfectly  content.  Peregil  now  bought  new  clothes  for 
his  little  flock,  and  all  kinds  of  toys,  together  with  ample  provi- 

1  suspended. 


5-i          LEGEND  OF  THE  MOORS  LEGACY. 

sions  for  a  hearty  meal,  and  returning  to  his  dwelling,  set  all 
his  children  dancing  around  him,  while  he  capered  in  the 
midst,  the  happiest  of  fathers. 

The  wife  of  the  water-carrier  kept  her  promise  of  secrecy 
with  surprising  strictness.  For  a  whole  day  and  a  half  she 
went  about  with  a  look  of  mystery  and  a  heart,  swelling  almost 
to  bursting,  yet  she  held  her  peace,  though  surrounded  by  her 
gossips.  It  is  true,  she  could  not  help  giving  herself  a  few 
airs,  apologized,  for  her  ragged  dress,  and  talked  of  ordering  a 
new  basquifia '  all  trimmed  with  gold  lace  and  bugles,2  and 
a  new  lace  mantilla.3  She  threw  out  hints  of  her  husband's 
intention  of  leaving  off  his  trade  of  water-carrying,  as  it  did 
not  altogether  agree  with  his  health.  In  fact  she  thought  they 
should  all  retire  to  the  country  for  the  summer,  that  the  chil 
dren  might  have  the  benefit  of  the  mountain  air,  for  there  was 
no  living  in  the  city  in  this  sultry  season. 

The  neighbors  stared  at  each  other,  and  thought  the  poor 
woman  had  lost  her  wits;  and  her  airs  and  graces  and  elegant 
pretensions  were  the  theme  of  universal  scoffing  and  merriment 
among  her  friends,  the  moment  her  back  was  turned. 

If  she  restrained  herself  abroad,  however,  she  indemnified 
herself  at  home,  and  putting  a  string  of  rich  oriental  pearls 
round  her  neck,  Moorish  bracelets  on  her  arms,  and  an 
aigrette4  of  diamonds  on  her  head,  sailed  backwards  and  for 
wards  in  her  slattern  rags  about  the  room,  now  and  then  stop 
ping  to  admire  herself  in  a  broken  mirror.  Nay,  in  the 
impulse  of  her  simple  vanity,  she  could  not  resist,  on  one 
occasion,  showing  herself  at  the  window,  to  enjoy  the  effect  of 
her  finery  on  the  passers-by. 

As  the  fates  would  have  it,  Pedrillo  Pedrugo,  the  meddle 
some  barber,  was  at  this  moment  sitting  idly  in  his  shop  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  when  his  ever-watchful  eye 

1  part  of  lady's  drees,  resembling  a  jacket         3  lady's  cloak  or  cape  of  silk,  velvet,  etc. 
with  a  short  skirt.  4  plume  for  the  head,  of  feathers  or  pre- 

« long  glass  beads.  cious  stones,  in  the  form  of  a  heron's  crest, 


LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY.          55 

caught  the  sparkle  of  a  diamond.  In  an  instant  he  was  at 
his  loophole  reconnoitering  the  slattern  spouse  of  the  water- 
carrier,  decorated  with  the  splendor  of  an  eastern  bride.  No 
sooner  had  he  taken  an  accurate  inventory l  of  her  ornaments, 
than  he  posted  off  with  all  speed  to  the  alcalde.  In  a  little 
while  the  hungry  alguazil  was  again  on  the  scent,  and  before 
the  day  was  over  the  unfortunate  Peregil  was  once  more 
dragged  into  the  presence  of  the  judge. 

"  How  is  this,  villain  !  "  cried  the  alcalde,  in  a  furious 
voice.  "  You  told  me  that  the  infidel  who  died  in  your  house 
left  nothing  behind  but  an  empty  coffer,  and  now  I  hear  of 
your  wife  flaunting  in  her  rags  decked  out  with  pearls  and 
diamonds.  Wretch  that  thou  art!  prepare  to  render  up  the 
spoils  of  thy  miserable  victim,  and  to  swing  on  the  gallows 
that  is  already  tired  of  waiting  for  thee." 

The  terrified  water-carrier  fell  on  his  knees,  and  made  a  full 
relation  of  the  marvellous  manner  in  which  he  had  gained  his 
wealth.  The  alcalde,  the  alguazil,  and  the  inquisitive  barber 
listened  with  greedy  ears  to  this  Arabian  tale  of  enchanted 
treasure.  The  alguazil  was  despatched  to  bring  the  Moor  who 
had  assisted  in  the  incantation.  The  Moslem  entered  half 
frightened  out  of  his  wits  at  finding  himself  in  the  hands  of 
the  harpies2  of  the  law.  When  he  beheld  the  water-carrier 
standing  with  sheepish  looks  and  downcast  countenance,  he 
comprehended  the  whole  matter.  "Miserable  animal,"  said 
he,  as  he  passed  near  him,  "  did  I  not  warn  thee  against  bab 
bling  to  thy  wife?" 

The  story  of  the  Moor  coincided  exactly  with  that  of  his 
colleague;  but  the  alcalde  affected  to  be  slow  of  belief,  and 
threw  out  menaces  of  imprisonment  and  rigorous 3  investiga 
tion. 

"Softly,  good  Sefior  Alcalde,"  said  the  Mussulman,  who 
by  this  time  had  recovered  his  usual  shrewdness  and  self-pos 
session.  ';  Let  us  not  mar  fortune's  favors  in  the  scramble 

1  list  of  articles.  3  plunderers  ;  robbers.  3  strict ;  severe. 


56  LEGEND  OF  THE  HOOK'S  LEGACY. 

for  them.  Nobody  knows  anything  of  this  matter  but  our 
selves;  let  us  keep  the  secret.  There  is  wealth  enough  in 
the  cave  to  enrich  us  all.  Promise  a  fair  division,  and  all 
shall  be  produced;  refuse,  and  the  cave  shall  remain  forever 
closed." 

The  alcalde  consulted  apart  with  the  alguazil.  The  latter 
was  an  old  fox  in  his  profession.  "  Promise  any  thing,"  said 
he,  "  until  you  get  possession  of  the  treasure.  You  may  then 
seize  upon  the  whole,  and  if  he  and  his  accomplice  dare  to 
murmur,  threaten  them  with  the  fagot  and  the  stake  as  infidels 
and  sorcerers." 

The  alcalde  relished  the  advice.  Smoothing  his  brow  and 
turning  to  the  Moor,  "  This  is  a  strange  story,"  said  he,  "  and 
may  be  true,  but  I  must  have  ocular 1  proof  of  it.  This  very 
night  you  must  repeat  the  incantation  in  my  presence.  If 
there  be  really  such  treasure,  we  will  share  it  amicably  between 
us,  and  say  nothing  further  of  the  matter;  if  ye  have  deceived 
me,  expect  no  mercy  at  my  hands.  In  the  mean  time  you 
must  remain  in  custody." 

The  Moor  and  the  water-carrier  cheerfully  agreed  to  these 
conditions,  satisfied  that  the  event  would  prove  the  truth  of 
their  words. 

Towards  midnight  the  alcalde  sallied  forth  secretly,  attended 
by  the  alguazil  and  the  meddlesome  barber,  all  strongly  armed. 
They  conducted  the  Moor  and  the  water-carrier  as  prisoners, 
and  were  provided  with  the  stout  donkey  of  the  latter  to  bear 
off  the  expected  treasure.  They  arrived  at  the  tower  without 
being  observed,  and  tying  the  donkey  to  a  fig-tree,  descended 
into  the  fourth  vault  of  the  tower. 

The  scroll  was  produced,  the  yellow  waxen  taper  lighted, 
and  the  Moor  read  the  form  of  incantation.  The  earth 
trembled  as  before,  and  the  pavement  opened  with  a  thunder 
ing  sound,  disclosing  the  narrow  flight  of  steps*  The  alcalde, 
the  alguazil,  and  the  barber  were  struck  aghast,  and  could  not 

1  received  by  actual  sight. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY.          57 

summon  courage  to  descend.  The  Moor  and  the  water-carrier 
entered  the  lower  vault,  and  found  the  two  Moors  seated  as 
before,  silent  and  motionless.  They  removed  two  of  the  great 
jars,  filled  with  golden  coin  and  precious  stones.  The  water- 
carrier  bore  them  up  one  by  one  upon  his  shoulders,  but 
though  a  strong-backed  little  man,  and  accustomed  to  carry 
burdens,  he  staggered  beneath  their  weight,  and  found,  when 
slung  on  each  side  of  his  donkey,  they  were  as  much  as  the 
animal  could  bear. 

"  Let  us  be  content  for  the  present,"  said  the  Moor;  "here 
is  as  much  treasure  as  we  can  carry  off  without  being  perceived, 
and  enough  to  make  us  all  wealthy  to  our  heart's  desire." 

"  Is  there  more  treasure  remaining  behind  ?  "  demanded  the 
alcalde. 

"  The  greatest  prize  of  all,"  said  the  Moor,  "a  huge  coffer 
bound  with  bands  of  steel,  and  filled  with  pearls  and  precious 
stones." 

%i  Let  us  have  up  the  coffer  by  all  means,"  cried  the  grasp 
ing  alcalde. 

*'I  will  descend  for  no  more,"  said  the  Moor,  doggedly; 
"enough  is  enough  for  a  reasonable  man — more  is  super 
fluous." 

*"  And  I,"  said  the  water-carrier,  "  will  bring  up  no  further 
burden  to  break  the  back  of  my  poor  donkey." 

Finding  commands,  threats,  and  entreaties  equally  vain,  the 
alcalde  turned  to  his  two  adherents.  "  Aid  me,"  said  he,  "  to 
bring  up  the  coffer,  and  its  contents  shall  be  divided  between 
us."  So  saying,  he  descended  the  steps,  followed  with  trem 
bling  reluctance  by  the  alguazil  and  the  barber. 

No  sooner  did  the  Moor  behold  them  fairly  earthed  than 
he  extinguished  the  yellow  taper;  the  pavement  closed  with  its 
usual  crash,  and  the  three  worthies  remained  buried  in  the 
tomb. 

He   then  hastened   up   the   different  flights  of   steps,  nor 

1  more  than  enough. 


58          LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR^S  LEGACY. 

stopped  until  in  the  open  air.  The  little  water-carrier  fol 
lowed  him  as  fast  as  his  short  legs  would  permit. 

"  What  hast  thou  done  ?  "  cried  Peregil,  as  soon  as  he  could 
recover  breath.  "  The  alcalde  and  the  other  two  are  shut  up 
in  the  vault." 

"  It  is  the  will  of  Allah!  "  said  the  Moor,  devoutly. 

"  And  will  you  not  release  them  ?  "  demanded  the  Gallego. 

"Allah  forbid  !"  replied  the  Moor,  smoothing  his  beard. 
"It  is  written  in  the  book  of  fate  that  they  shall  remain 
enchanted  until  some  future  adventurer  arrive  to  break  the 
charm.  The  will  of  God  be  done  !  "  So  saying,  he  hurled  the 
end  of  the  waxen  taper  far  among  the  gloomy  thickets  of  the 
glen. 

There  was  now  no  remedy,  so  the  Moor  and  the  water-carrier 
proceeded  with  the  richly-laden  donkey  toward  the  city,  nor 
could  honest  Peregil  refrain  from  hugging  and  kissing  his 
long-eared  fellow-laborer,  thus  restored  to  him  from  the 
clutches  of  the  law;  and  in  fact  it  is  doubtful  which  gave  the 
simple-hearted  little  man  most  joy  at  the  moment,  the  gaining 
of  the  treasure  or  the  recovery  of  the  donkey. 

The  two  partners  in  good  luck  divided  their  spoil  amicably 
and  fairly,  except  that  the  Moor,  who  had  a  little  taste  for 
trinketry,  made  out  to  get  into  his  heap  the  most  of  the  pearls 
and  precious  stones  and  other  baubles,  but  then  he  always 
gave  the  water-carrier  in  lieu  magnificent  jewels  of  massy 
gold,  of  five  times  the  size,  with  which  the  latter  was  heartily 
content.  They  took  care  not  to  linger  within  reach  of  acci 
dents,  but  made  off  to  enjoy  their  wealth  undisturbed  in  other 
countries.  The  Moor  returned  to  Africa,  to  his  native  city  of 
Tangier,  and  the  Gallego,  with  his  wife,  his  children,  and  his 
donkey,  made  the  best  of  his  way  to  Portugal.  Here,  under 
the  admonition !  and  tuition  of  his  wife,  he  became  a  person 
age  of  some  consequence;  for  she  made  the  worthy  little  man 
array  his  long  body  and  short  legs  in  doublet  and  hose,  with  a 

1  warning  ;  advice. 


LEGEND   OF   THE    MOOtt'S   LEGACY.  59 

feather  in  his  hat  and  a  sword  by  his  side,  and  laying  aside 
his  familiar  appellation  of  Peregil,  assume  the  more  sonorous 
title  of  Don  Pedro  Gil.  His  progeny  grew  up  a  thriving  and 
merry-hearted,  though  short  and  bandy-legged  generation, 
while  Sefiora  Gil,  befringed,  belaced,  and  betasselled  from  her 
head  to  her  heels,  with  glittering  rings  on  every  finger,  became 
a  model  of  slattern  fashion  and  finery. 

As  to  the  alcalde  and  his  adjuncts,  they  remained  shut  up 
under  the  great  tower  of  the  seven  floors,  and  there  they 
remain  spellbound  at  the  present  day.  Whenever  there  shall 
be  a  lack  in  Spain  of  pimping  barbers,  sharking  alguazils,  and 
corrupt  alcaldes,  they  may  be  sought  after;  but  if  they  have 
to  wait  until  such  time  for  their  deliverance,  there  is  danger 
of  their  enchantment  enduring  until  doomsday. 


LEGEND   OF   THE   KOSE   OF   THE  ALIIAMBRA. 

FOR  some  time  after  the  surrender  of  Granada  by  the 
Moors,  that  delightful  city  was  a  frequent  and  favorite  resi 
dence  of  the  Spanish  sovereigns,  until  they  were  frightened 
away  by  successive  shocks  of  earthquakes,  which  toppled  down 
various  houses,  and  made  the  old  Moslem  towers  rock  to  their 
foundation. 

Many,  many  years  then  rolled  away,  during  which  Granada 
was  rarely  honored  by  a  royal  guest.  The  palaces  of  the  nobil 
ity  remained  silent  and  shut  up;  and  the  Alhambra,  like  a 
slighted  beauty,  sat  in  mournful  desolation  among  her  neg 
lected  gardens.  The  Tower  of  the  Infantas,  once  the  residence 
of  the  three  beautiful  Moorish  princesses,  partook  of  the  gen 
eral  desolation ;  the  spider  spun  her  web  athwart 1  the  gilded 
vault,  and  bats  and  owls  nestled  in  those  chambers  that  had 
been  graced  by  the  presence  of  Zayda,  Zorayda,  and  Zorahayda. 
The  neglect  of  this  tower  may  partly  have  been  owing  to  some 
superstitious  notions  of  the  neighbors.  It  was  rumored  that 
the  spirit  of  the  youthful  Zorahayda,  who  had  perished  in  tlmt 
tower,  was  often  seen  by  moonlight,  seated  beside  the  fountain 
in  the  hall,  or  moaning  about  the  battlements,  and  that  the 
notes  of  her  silver  lute  would  be  heard  at  midnight  by  way 
farers  passing  along  the  glen. 

At  length  the  city  of  Granada  was  once  more  welcomed  by 
the  royal  presence.  All  the  world  knows  that  Philip  V.2  was 
the  first  Bourbon  that  swayed  the  Spanish  sceptre.  All  the 
world  knows  that  he  married,  in  second  nuptials,3  Elizabeth) 
or  Isabella  (for  they  are  the  same),  the  beautiful  princess  of 
Parma; 4  and  all  the  world  knows  that  by  this  chain  of  contin- 

1  sidewise  ;  obliquely  ;  across.  4  province  in  Italy  between  the  Apennines 

8 1683-1746,  3  marriage  ceremonies,     and  the  Po  river. 


LEGEND   OF   THE   ROSE   OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.  61 

gencies '  a  French  prince  and  an  Italian  princess  were  seated 
together  on  the  Spanish  throne.  For  a  visit  of  this  illustrious 
pair,  the  Alhambra  was  repaired  and  fitted  up  with  all  possible 
expedition.  The  arrival  of  the  court  changed  the  whole  aspect 
of  the  lately  deserted  palace.  The  clangor  of  drum  and  trum 
pet,  the  tramp  of  steed  about  the  avenues  and  outer  court, 
the  glitter  of  arms  and  display  of  banners  about  barbican  and 
battlement,  recalled  the  ancient  and  warlike  glories  of  the  for 
tress.  A  softer  spirit,  however,  reigned  within  the  royal  palace. 
There  was  the  rustling  of  robes  and  the  cautious  tread  and 
murmuring  voice  of  reverential  courtiers  about  the  ante 
chambers;  a  loitering  of  pages  and  maids  of  honor  about  the 
gardens,  and  the  sound  of  music  stealing  from  open  casements. 

Among  those  who  attended  in  the  train  of  the  monarchs 
was  a  favorite  page  of  the  queen,  named  Ruyz  de  Alarcon.  To 
say  that  he  was  a  favorite  page  of  the  queen  was  at  once  to 
speak  his  eulogium,2  for  every  one  in  the  suite  of  the  stately 
Elizabetta  was  chosen  for  grace  and  beauty  and  accomplish 
ments.  He  was  just  turned  of  eighteen,  light  and  lithe  of 
form,  and  graceful  as  a  young  Antinous.3  To  the  queen  he 
was  all  deference  and  respect,  yet  he  was  at  heart  a  roguish 
stripling,  petted  and  spoiled  by  the  ladies  about  the  court. 

This  loitering  page  was  one  morning  rambling  about  the 
groves  of  the  Generalife,  which  overlook  the  grounds  of  the 
Alhambra.  He  had  taken  with  him  for  his  amusement  a 
favorite  gerfalcon  of  the  queen.  In  the  course  of  his  rambles, 
seeing  a  bird  rising  from  a  thicket,  he  unhooded  the  hawk  and 
let  him  fly.  The  falcon  towered  high  in  the  air,  made  a  swoop 
at  his  quarry,  but  missing  it,  soared  away,  regardless  of  the 
calls  of  the  page.  The  latter  followed  the  truant  bird  with 
his  eye,  in  its  capricious 4  flight,  until  he  saw  it  alight  upon 
the  battlements  of  a  remote  and  lonely  tower,  in  the  outer  wall 

1  unforeseen  events.  emperor  Hadrian  ;   drowned  in  the  Nile  : 

a  praise.  deified. 

1  (au-tin'o-us),  page  and  favorite  of  the        4  uncertain  ;  changeable. 


f>2  LEGEND   OF  THE   ROSE   OF  THE   ALHAMBRA. 

of  the  Alhambra,  built  on  the  edge  of  a  ravine  that  separated 
the  royal  fortress  from  the  grounds  of  the  Generalife.  It  was 
in  fact  the  "  Tower  of  the  Princesses." 

The  page  descended  into  the  ravine  and  approached  the 
tower,  but  it  had  no  entrance  from  the  glen,  and  its  lofty 
height  rendered  any  attempt  to  scale  it  fruitless.  Seeking 
"one  of  the  gates  of  the  fortress,  therefore,  he  made  a  wide  cir 
cuit  to  that  side  of  the  tower  facing  within  the  walls. 

A  small  garden,  inclosed  by  a  trellis-work  of  reeds  over 
hung  with  myrtle,  lay  before  the  tower.  Opening  a  wicket, 
the  page  passed  between  beds  of  flowers  and  thickets  of  roses 
to  the  door.  It  was  closed  and  bolted.  A  crevice  in  the  door 
gave  him  a  peep  into  the  interior.  There  was  a  small  Moor 
ish  hall  with  fretted  walls,  light  marble  columns,  and  an 
alabaster  fountain  surrounded  with  flowers.  In  the  centre 
hung  a  gilt  cage  containing  a  singing-bird ;  beneath  it,  on  a 
chair,  lay  a  tortoise-shell  cat  among  reels  of  silk  and  other 
articles  of  female  labor;  and  a  guitar  decorated  with  ribbons 
leaned  against  the  fountain. 

Ruyz  de  Alarcon  was  struck  with  these  traces  of  female  taste 
and  elegance  in  a  lonely,  and,  as  he  had  supposed,  deserted 
tower.  They  reminded  him  of  the  tales  of  enchanted  halls 
current  in  the  Alhambra;  and  the  tortoise-shell  cat  might  be 
some  spellbound  princess. 

He  knocked  gently  at  the  door.  A  beautiful  face  peeped 
out  from  a  little  window  above,  but  was  instantly  withdrawn. 
He  waited,  expecting  that  the  door  would  be  opened,  but  he 
waited  in  vain;  no  footstep  was  to  be  heard  within;  all  was 
silent.  Had  his  senses  deceived  him,  or  was  this  beautiful 
apparition  the  fairy  of  the  tower?  He  knocked  again,  and 
more  loudly.  After  a  little  while  the  beaming  face  once  more 
peeped  forth ;  it  was  that  of  a  blooming  damsel  of  fifteen. 

The  page  immediately  doffed  his  plumed  bonnet,  and 
entreated  in  the  most  courteous  accents  to  be  permitted  to 
ascend  the  tower  in  pursuit  of  his  falcon. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.      63 

"  I  dare  not  open  the  door,  seiior,"  replied  the  little  damsel, 
blushing;  "  my  aunt  has  forbidden  it." 

' ' I  do  beseech  you,  fair  maid ;  it  is  the  favorite  falcon  of 
the  queen;  I  dare  not  return  to  the  palace  without  it." 

"  Are  you,  then,  one  of  the  cavaliers  of  the  court  ?  " 

"  I  am,  fair  maid;  but  I  shall  lose  the  queen's  favor  and  my 
place,  if  I  lose  this  hawk." 

"  Santa  Maria!  It  is  against  you  cavaliers  of  the  court  my 
aunt  has  charged  me  especially  to  bar  the  door." 

"Against  wicked  cavaliers,  doubtless,  but  I  am  none  of 
these,  but  a  simple,  harmless  page,  who  will  be  ruined  and 
undone,  if  you  deny  me  this  small  request." 

The  heart  of  the  little  damsel  was  touched  by  the  distress  of 
the  page.  It  was  a  thousand  pities  he  should  be  ruined  for 
the  want  of  so  trifling  a  boon.  Surely,  too,  he  could  not  be  one 
of  those  dangerous  beings  whom  her  aunt  had  described  as  a 
species  of  cannibal,  ever  on  the  prowl  to  make  prey  of  thought 
less  damsels;  he  was  gentle  and  modest,  and  stood  so  entreat- 
ingly  with  cap  in  hand,  and  looked  so  charming. 

The  sly  page  saw  that  the  garrison  began  to  waver,  and 
redoubled  his  entreaties  in  such  moving  terms  that  it  was  not 
in  the  nature  of  mortal  maiden  to  deny  him;  so  the  blushing 
little  warden  of  the  tower  descended,  and  opened  the  door 
with  a  trembling  hand;  and  if  the  page  had  been  charmed  by 
a  mere  glimpse  of  her  countenance  from  the  window,  he  was 
ravished '  by  the  full-length  portrait  now  revealed  to  him. 

Her  Andalusian  bodice  and  trim  basquifla  set  off  the  round 
but  delicate  symmetry a  of  her  form,  which  was  as  yet  scarce 
verging  into  womanhood.  Her  glossy  hair  was  parted  on  her 
forehead  with  scrupulous 3  exactness,  and  decorated  with  a 
fresh  plucked  rose,  according  to  the  universal  custom  of  the 
country.  It  is  true  her  complexion  was  tinged  by  the  ardor  of 
a  southern  sun,  but  it  served  to  give  richness  to  the  mantling 

1  carried  away  with  delight.  3  very  careful. 

2  due  proportion  of  the  several  parts  of  a  body  to  each  other. 


64  LEGEND   OF  THE   ROSE   OF  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

bloom  of  her  cheek,  and  to  heighten  the  lustre  of  her  melting 


Ruyz  de  Alarcon  beheld  all  this  with  a  single  glance,  for  it 
became  him  not  to  tarry ;  he  merely  murmured  his  acknowledg 
ments,  and  then  bounded  lightly  up  the  spiral  staircase  in 
quest  of  his  falcon. 

He  soon  returned  with  the  truant  bird  upon  his  fist.  The 
damsel,  in  the  mean  time,  had  seated  herself  by  the  fountain 
in  the  hall,  and  was  winding  silk ;  but  in  her  agitation '  she 
let  fall  the  reel  upon  the  pavement.  The  page  sprang  and 
picked  it  up,  then,  dropping  gracefully  on  one  knee,  pre 
sented  it  to  her;  but  seizing  the  hand  extended  to  receive  it, 
imprinted  on  it  a  kiss  more  fervent  and  devout  than  he  had 
ever  imprinted  on  the  fair  hand  of  his  sovereign. 

"  Ave  Maria,2  seflor!  "  exclaimed  the  damsel,  blushing  still 
deeper  with  confusion  and  surprise,  for  never  before  had  she 
received  such  a  salutation. 

The  modest  page  made  a  thousand  apologies,  assuring  her  it 
was  the  way,  at  court,  of  expressing  the  most  profound  hom 
age  and  respect. 

Her  anger,  if  anger  she  felt,  was  easily  pacified,  but  her 
agitation  and  embarrassment  continued;  and  she  sat  blushing 
deeper  and  deeper,  with  her  eyes  cast  down  upon  her  work, 
entangling  the  silk  which  she  attempted  to  wind. 

The  cunning  page  saw  the  confusion  in  the  opposite  camp, 
and  would  fain  have  profited  by  it,  but  the  fine  speeches  he 
would  have  uttered  died  upon  his  lips;  his  attempts  at  gal 
lantry  were  awkward  and  ineffectual ;  and  to  his  surprise,  the 
adroit 3  page,  who  had  figured  with  such  grace  and  effrontery 4 
among  the  most  knowing  and  experienced  ladies  of  the  court, 
found  himself  awed  and  abashed  in  the  presence  of  a  simple 
damsel  of  fifteen. 

In  fact,  the  artless  maiden,  in  her  own   modesty  and  inno 

1  excitement ;  emotion.  3  skilful ;  expert. 

2  (ah'va  mah'ree-ah  sa'nyor)  Hail  Mary,  sir.       4  boldness  ;  impudence. 


LEGEND   OF  THE   ROSE   OF  THE  ALHAMBHA.  65 

ceiice,  had  guardians  more  effectual  than  the  bolts  and  bars 
prescribed  by  her  vigilant  aunt. 

The  diffidence l  of  the  page,  though  genuine,  was  short 
lived,  and  he  was  recovering  his  usual  ease  and  confidence, 
when  a  shrill  voice  was  heard  at  a  distance. 

"My  aunt  is  returning  from  mass!  "  gried  the  damsel  in 
affright.  "I  pray  you,  sefior,  depart." 

"  Not  until  you  grant  me  that  rose  from  your  hair  as  a 
remembrance." 

She  hastily  untwisted  the  rose  from  her  raven  locks.  "  Take 
it,"  cried  she,  agitated  and  blushing,  "but  pray  begone." 

The  page  took  the  rose,  and  at  the  same  time  covered  with 
kisses  the  fair  hand  that  gave  it.  Then,  placing  the  flower  in 
his  bonnet,  and  taking  the  falcon  upon  his  fist,  he  bounded  off 
through  the  garden,  bearing  away  with  him  the  heart  of  the 
gentle  Jacinta. 

When  the  vigilant  aunt  arrived  at  the  tower,  she  remarked  the 
agitation  of  her  neice,  and  an  air  of  confusion  in  the  hall ;  but 
a  word  of  explanation  sufficed.  "  A  gerfalcon  had  pursued 
his  prey  into  the  hall." 

"  Mercy  on  us  !  to  think  of  a  falcon  flying  into  the  tower. 
Did  ever  one  hear  of  so  saucy  a  hawk  ?  Why,  the  very  bird  in 
the  cage  is  not  safe  !  " 

The  vigilant  Fredegonda  was  one  of  the  most  wary  of 
ancient  spinsters. 

The  niece  was  the  orphan  of  an  officer  who  had  fallen  in  the 
wars.  She  had  been  educated  in  a  convent,  and  had  recently 
been  transferred  from  her  sacred  asylum  to  the  immediate 
guardianship  of  her  aunt,  under  whose  overshadowing  care 
she  vegetated  in  obscurity,*  like  an  opening  rose  blooming 
beneath  a  brier.  Nor  indeed  is  this  comparison  entirely  acci 
dental;  for,  to  tell  the  truth,  her  fresh  and  dawning  beauty 
had  caught  the  public  eye,  even  in  her  seclusion,  and,  with 
that  poetical  turn  common  to  the  people  of  Andalusia,  the 

1  timidity  ;  want  of  confidence.  2  seclusion  from  society. 


66      LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

peasantry  of  the  neighborhood  had  given  her  the  appellation 
of  "  the  Hose  of  the  Alhambra." 

The  wary  aunt  continued  to  keep  a  faithful  watch  over  her 
tempting  little  niece  as  long  as  the  court  continued  at  Granada, 
and  flattered  herself  that  her  vigilance  had  been  successful. 

At  length  King  Philip  cut  short  his  sojourn  at  Granada,  and 
suddenly  departed  with  all  his  train.  The  vigilant  Frede- 
gonda  watched  the  royal  pageant  as  it  issued  forth  from  the 
Gate  of  Justice,  and  descended  the  great  avenue  leading  to  the 
city.  When  the  last  banner  disappeared  from  her  sight,  she 
returned  exulting  to  her  tower,  for  all  her  cares  were  over. 
To  her  surprise,  a  light  Arabian  steed  pawed  the  ground  at  the 
wicket-gate  of  the  garden;  to  her  horror,  she  saw  through 
the  thickets  of  roses  a  youth,  in  gayly-embroidered  dress,  at 
the  feet  of  her  niece.  At  the  sound  of  her  footsteps  he  gave  a 
tender  adieu,  bounded  lightly  over  the  barrier  of  reeds  and 
myrtles,  sprang  upon  his  horse,  and  was  out  of  sight  in  an 
instant. 

The  tender  Jacinta,  in  the  agony  of  her  grief,  lost  all 
thought  of  her  aunt's  displeasure.  Throwing  herself  into  her 
arms,  she  broke  forth  into  sobs  and  tears. 

"  Ay  de  mi!"1  cried  she;  "he's  gone! — he's  gone! — he's 
gone!  and  I  shall  never  see  him  more  !  " 

"  Gone! — who  is  gone? — what  youth  is  that  I  saw  at  your 
feet?" 

"  A  queen's  page,  aunt,  who  came  to  bid  me  farewell." 

"  A  queen's  page,  child!  "  echoed  the  vigilant  Fredegonda, 
faintly;  "and  when  did  you  become  acquainted  with  the 
queen's  page?  " 

4 '  The  morning  that  the  gerfalcon  came  into  the  tower.  It 
was  the  queen's  gerfalcon,  and  he  came  in  pursuit  of  it." 

"  Ah,  silly,  silly  girl !  know  that  there  are  no  gerfalcons  half 
so  dangerous  as  these  young  prankling  pages,  and  it  is  precisely 
such  simple  birds  as  thee  that  they  pounce  upon." 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.      67 

Days,  weeks,  months  elapsed,  and  nothing  more  was  heard 
of  the  page.  The  pomegranate '  ripened,  the  vine  yielded  up 
its  fruit,  the  autumnal  rains  descended  in  torrents  from  the 
mountains;  the  Sierra  Nevada  became  covered  with  a  snowy 
mantle,  and  wintry  blasts  howled  through  the  halls  of  the 
Alhambra;  still  he  came  not.  The  winter  passed  away. 
Again  the  genial  spring  burst  forth  with  song  and  blossom  and 
balmy  zephyr;  the  snows  melted  from  the  mountains,  until 
none  remained  but  on  the  lofty  summit  of  Nevada,  glistening 
through  the  sultry  summer  air.  Still  nothing  was  heard  of 
the  forgetful  page. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  poor  little  Jacinta  grew  pale  and 
thoughtful.  Her  former  occupations  and  amusements  were 
abandoned,  her  silk  lay  entangled,  her  guitar  unstrung,  her 
flowers  were  neglected,  the  notes  of  her  bird  unheeded,  and 
her  eyes,  once  so  bright,  were  dimmed  with  secret  weeping. 
If  any  solitude  could  be  devised  to  foster  the  passion  of  a 
love-lorn  damsel,  it  would  be  such  a  place  as  the  Alhambra, 
where  every  thing  seems  disposed  to  produce  tender  and  ro 
mantic  reveries.  It  is  a  very  paradise  for  lovers.  How  hard 
then  to  be  alone  in  such  a  paradise — and  not  merely  alone, 
but  forsaken  ! 

"  Alas,  silly  child!  "  would  the  staid  and  immaculate  Frede- 
gonda  say,  when  she  found  her  niece  in  one  of  her  desponding 
moods,  "  did  I  not  warn  thee  against  the  wiles  and  deceptions2 
of  these  men  ?  What  couldst  thou  expect,  too,  from  one  of  a 
haughty  and  aspiring  family — thou  an  orphan,  the  descendant 
of  a  fallen  and  impoverished  line  ?  Be  assured,  if  the  youth 
were  true,  his  father,  who  is  one  of  the  proudest  nobles  about 
the  court,  would  prohibit  his  union  with  one  so  humble  and 
portionless  as  thou.  Pluck  up  thy  resolution,  therefore,  and 
drive  these  idle  notions  from  thy  mind." 

The  words  of  the  immaculate  Fredegonda  only  served  to 

1  fruit  as  large  ae  an  orange,  with  hard         J  acts  which  deceive, 
rind,  soft  pulp,  and  numerous  seeds. 


68  LEGEND   OF  THE   ROSE   OF   THE   ALHAMBRA. 

increase  the  melancholy  of  her  niece,  but  she  sought  to  indulge 
it  in  private.  At  a  late  hour  one  midsummer  night,  after  her 
aunt  had  retired  to  rest,  she  remained  alone  in  the  hall  of  the 
tower,  seated  beside  the  alabaster  fountain.  It  was  here  that 
the  faithless  page  had  first  knelt  and  kissed  her  hand ;  it  was 
here  that  he  had  often  vowed  eternal  fidelity.  The  poor  little 
damsel's  heart  was  overladen  with  sad  and  tender  recollections, 
her  tears  began  to  flow,  and  slowly  fell  drop  by  drop  into  the 
fountain.  By  degrees  the  crystal  water  became  agitated,  and 
—bubble — bubble — bubble — boiled  up  and  was  tossed  about, 
until  a  female  figure,  richly  clad  in  Moorish  robes,  slowly  rose 
to  view. 

Jacinta  was  so  frightened  that  she  fled  from  the  hall,  and 
did  not  venture  to  return.  The  next  morning  she  related  what 
she  had  seen  to  her  aunt,  but  the  good  lady  treated  it  as  a 
phantasy '  of  her  troubled  mind,  or  supposed  she  had  fallen 
asleep  and  dreamt  beside  the  fountain.  "  Thou  hast  been 
thinking  of  the  story  of  the  three  Moorish  princesses  that  once 
inhabited  this  tower,"  continued  she,  "and  it  has  entered 
into  thy  dreams." 

"  What  story,  aunt  ?     I  know  nothing  of  it." 

"  Thou  hast  certainly  heard  of  the  three  princesses,  Zayda, 
Zorayda,  and  Zorahayda,  who  were  confined  in  this  tower  by 
the  king  their  father,  and  agreed  to  fly  with  three  Christian 
cavaliers.  The  first  two  accomplished  their  escape,  but  the 
third  failed  in  her  resolution,  and,  it  is  said,  died  in  this 
tower." 

"I  now  recollect  to  have  heard  of  it,"  said  Jacinta,  "and 
to  have  wept  over  the  fate  of  the  gentle  Zorahayda." 

' '  Thou  mayest  well  weep  over  her  fate, ' '  continued  the 
aunt,  "for  the  lover  of  Zorahayda  was  thy  ancestor.  He 
long  bemoaned  his  Moorish  love;  but  time  cured  him  of  his 
grief,  and  he  married  a  Spanish  lady,  from  whom  thou  art 
descended." 

1  fancy ;  illusion. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.      69 

Jacinta  ruminated  upon  these  words.  "  That  what  I  have 
seen  is  no  phantasy  of  the  brain,"  said  she  to  herself,  "I  am 
confident.  If  indeed  it  be  the  spirit  of  the  gentle  Zorahayda, 
which  I  have  heard  lingers  about  this  tower,  of  what  should  I 
be  afraid  ?  I'll  watch  by  the  fountain  to-night;  perhaps  the 
visit  will  be  repeated." 

Towards  midnight,  when  every  thing  was  quiet,  she  again 
took  her  seat  in  the  hall.  As  the  bell  in  the  distant  watch- 
tower  of  the  Alhambra  struck  the  midnight  hour,  the  fountain 
was  again  agitated;  and  bubble — bubble — bubble — it  tossed 
about  the  waters  until  the  Moorish  female  again  rose  to  view. 
She  was  young  and  beautiful;  her  dress  was  rich  with  jewels, 
and  in  her  hand  she  held  a  silver  lute.  Jacinta  trembled  and 
was  faint,  but  was  reassured  by  the  soft  and  plaintive  voice  of 
the  apparition,  and  the  sweet  expression  of  her  pale,  melan 
choly  countenance. 

"  Daughter  of  mortality,"  said  she,  "what  aileth  thee? 
Why  do  thy  tears  trouble  my  fountain,  and  thy  sighs  and 
plaints  disturb  the  quiet  watches  of  the  night  ?  ' ' 

"  I  weep  because  of  the  faithlessness  of  man,  and  I  bemoan 
my  solitary  and  forsaken  state." 

'  Take  comfort;  thy  sorrows  may  yet  have  an  end.  Thou 
beholdest  a  Moorish  princess,  "who,  like  thee,  was  unhappy  in 
her  love.  A  Christian  knight,  thy  ancestor,  won  my  heart,  and 
would  have  borne  me  to  his  native  land  and  to  the  bosom  of 
his  church.  I  was  a  convert  in  my  heart,  but  I  lacked  courage 
equal  to  my  faith,  and  lingered  till  too  late.  For  this  the  evil 
genii  are  permitted  to  have  power  over  me,  and  I  will  remain 
enchanted  in  this  tower  until  some  pure  Christian  deign  to 
break  the  magic  spell.  Wilt  them  undertake  the  task  ?  " 

"  I  will,"  replied  the  damsel,  trembling. 

"Come  hither,  then,  and  fear  not;  dip  thy  hand  in  the 
fountain,  sprinkle  the  water  over  me,  and  baptize  me  after  the 
manner  of  thy  faith;  so  shall  the  enchantment  be  dispelled, 
and  my  troubled  spirit  have  repose.7' 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

The  damsel  advanced  with  faltering  steps,  dipped  her  hand 
in  the  fountain,  collected  water  in  the  palm,  and  sprinkled  it 
over  the  pale  face  of  the  phantom. 

The  latter  smiled  with  ineffable '  benignity.2  She  dropped 
her  silver  lute  at  the  feet  of  Jacinta,  crossed  her  white  arms 
upon  her  bosom,  and  melted  from  sight,  so  that  it  seemed 
merely  as  if  a  shower  of  dew-drops  had  fallen  into  the  fountain. 

Jacinta  retired  from  the  hall,  filled  with  awe  and  wonder. 
She  scarcely  closed  her  eyes  that  night;  but  when  she  awoke 
at  daybreak  out  of  a  troubled  slumber,  the  whole  appeared  to 
her  like  a  distempered  dream.  On  descending  into  the  hall, 
however,  the  truth  of  the  vision  was  established,  for  beside 
the  fountain  she  beheld  the  silver  lute  glittering  in  the  morn 
ing  sunshine. 

She  hastened  to  her  aunt,  to  relate  all  that  had  befallen  her, 
and  called  her  to  behold  the  lute  as  a  testimonial  of  the  reality 
of  her  story.  If  the  good  lady  had  any  lingering  doubts,  they 
were  removed  when  Jacinta  touched,  the  instrument,  for  she 
drew  forth  such  ravishing  tones  as  to  thaw  even  the  frigid 
bosom  of  the  immaculate  Fredegonda,  that  region  of  eternal 
winter,  into  a  genial  flow.  Nothing  but  supernatural  melody 
could  have  produced  such  an  effect. 

The  extraordinary  power  of  the  lute  became  every  day  more 
and  more  apparent.  The  wayfarer  passing  by  the  tower  was 
detained,  and,  as  it  were,  spellbound,  in  breathless  ecstasy. 
The  very  birds  gathered  in  the  neighboring  trees,  and,  hushing 
their  own  strains,  listened  in  charmed  silence. 

Rumor  soon  spread  the  news  abroad.  The  inhabitants  of 
Granada  thronged  to  the  Alhambra  to  catch  a  few  notes  of 
the  transcendant  music  that  flowed  about  the  tower  of  Las 
Infantas. 

The  lovely  little  minstrel  was  at  length  drawn  forth  from 
her  retreat.  The  rich  and  powerful  of  the  land  contended 
who  should  entertain  and  do  honor  to  her;  or,  rather,  who 

1  very  great ;   unspeakably  great.  3  kinduees. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.      71 

should  secure  the  charms  of  her  lute  to  draw  fashionable 
throngs  to  their  saloons.  Wherever  she  went,  her  vigilant  aunt 
kept  a  dragon  watch  at  her  elbow,  awing  the  throngs  of  impas 
sioned  admirers,  who  hung  in  raptures  on  her  strains.  The 
report  of  her  wonderful  powers  spread  from  city  to  city. 
Malaga,  Seville,  Cordova,  all  became  successively  mad  on  the 
theme;  nothing  was  talked  of  throughout  Andalusia  but  the 
beautiful  minstrel  of  the  Alhambra.  How  could  it  be  other 
wise  among  a  people  so  musical  and  gallant  as  the  Anda- 
lusians,  when  the  lute  was  magical  in  its  powers,  and  the 
minstrel  inspired  by  love ! 

While  all  Andalusia  was  thus  music  mad,  a  different  mood 
prevailed  at  the  court  of  Spain.  Philip  V.,  as  is  well  known, 
was  a  miserable  hypochondriac,1  and  subject  to  all  kinds  of 
fancies.  Sometimes  he  would  keep  to  his  bed  for  weeks 
together,  groaning  under  imaginary  complaints.  At  other 
times  he  would  insist  upon  abdicating  his  throne,  to  the  great 
annoyance  of  his  royal  spouse,  who  had  a  strong  relish  for  the 
splendors  of  a  court  and  the  glories  of  a  crown,  and  guided 
the  sceptre  of  her  imbecile2  lord  with  an  expert  and  steady 
hand. 

Nothing  was  found  to  be  so  efficacious 3  in  dispelling  the 
royal  megrims4  as  the  power  of  music;  the  queen  took  care, 
therefore,  to  have  the  best  performers,  both  vocal  and  instru 
mental,  at  hand,  and  retained  the  famous  Italian  singer  Fari- 
nelli  about  the  court  as  a  kind  of  royal  physician. 

At  the  moment  we  treat  of,  however,  a  freak  had  come  over 
the  mind  of  this  sapient  and  illustrious  Bourbon  that  surpassed 
all  former  vagaries.5  After  a  long  spell  of  imaginary  illness, 
which  set  all  the  strains  of  Farinelli  and  the  consolations  of 
a  whole  orchestra  of  court  fiddlers  at  defiance,  the  monarch 
fairly,  in  idea,  gave  up  the  ghost,  and  considered  himself 
absolutely  dead. 

1  one  affected  with  low  spirits.  3  effectual ;  powerful.       *  fancies  ;  freaks. 

*weak;  feebleminded.  5  (vny-gay'riz),  wild  freaks;  whims. 


72  LEGEND    OF   THE   ROSE   OF  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

This  would  have  been  harmless  enough,  and  even  convenient 
both  to  his  queen  and  courtiers,  had  he  been  content  to  remain 
in  the  quietude  befitting  a  dead  man;  but  to  their  annoyance 
he  insisted  upon  having  the  funeral  ceremonies  performed  over 
him,  and,  to  their  inexpressible  perplexity,  began  to  grow 
impatient,  and  to  revile  bitterly  at  them  for  negligence  and 
disrespect  in  leaving  him  unburied.  What  was  to  be  done  ? 
To  disobey  the  king's  positive  commands  was  monstrous  in  the 
eyes  of  the  obsequious  courtiers  of  a  punctilious  court — but  to 
obey  him,  and  bury  him  alive,  would  be  downright  regicide.  * 

In  the  midst  of  this  fearful  dilemma2  a  rumor  reached  the 
court,  of  the  female  minstrel  who  was  turning  the  brains  of 
all  Andalusia.  The  queen  despatched  missions  in  all  haste  to 
summon  her  to  St.  Ildefonso,  where  the  court  at  that  time 
resided. 

Within  a  few  days,  as  the  queen  with  her  maids  of  honor 
was  walking  in  those  stately  gardens,  intended,  with  their 
avenues  and  terraces  and  fountains,  to  eclipse  the  glories  of 
Versailles,3  the  far-famed  minstrel  was  conducted  into  her 
presence.  The  imperial  Elizabetta  gazed  with  surprise  at  the 
youthful  and  unpretending  appearance  of  the  little  being  that 
had  set  the  world  madding.  She  was  in  her  picturesque  An- 
dalusian  dress,  her  silver  lute  in  hand,  and  stood  with  modest 
and  downcast  eyes,  but  with  a  simplicity  and  freshness  of 
beauty  that  still  bespoke  her  "  the  Eose  of  the  Alhambra." 

As  usual,  she  was  accompanied  by  her  ever- vigilant  Frede- 
gonda,  who  gave  the  whole  history  of  her  parentage  and  descent 
to  the  inquiring  queen.  If  the  stately  Elizabetta  had  been 
interested  by  the  appearance  of  Jacinta,  she  was  still  more 
pleased  when  she  learnt  that  she  was  of  a  meritorious  though 
impoverished 4  line,  and  that  her  father  had  bravely  fallen  in 
the  service  of  the  crown.  "  If  thy  powers  equal  their  renown," 

1  murder  of  a  king.  containing  the  famous  royal  palace  built  by 

2  perplexity  how  to  decide.  Louis  XIII.  and  Louis  XIV. 
8  eleven  miles  west  southwest  of  Paris,         «poor. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBKA.      73 

said  she,  "and  thou  canst  cast  forth  this  evil  spirit  that  pos 
sesses  thy  sovereign,  thy  fortunes  shall  henceforth  be  my  care, 
and  honors  and  wealth  attend  thee. " 

Impatient  to  make  trial  of  her  skill,  she  led  the  way  at  once 
to  the  apartment  of  the  moody  monarch. 

Jacinta  followed,  with  downcast  eyes,  through  files  of  guards 
and  crowds  of  courtiers.  They  arrived  at  length  at  a  great 
chamber  hung  with  black.  The  windows  were  closed  to 
exclude  the  light  of  day;  a  number  of  yellow  wax  tapers  in 
silver  sconces '  diffused  a  lugubrious 2  light,  and  dimly  revealed 
the  figures  of  mutes  in  mourning  dresses,  and  courtiers  who 
glided  about  with  noiseless  step  and  woebegone  visage.  In  the 
midst  of  a  funeral  bed  or  bier,  his  hands  folded  on  his  breast, 
and  the  tip  of  his  nose  just  visible,  lay  extended  this  would-be 
buried  monarch. 

The  queen  entered  the  chamber  in  silence,  and  pointing  to  a 
footstool  in  an  obscure  corner,  beckoned  to  Jacinta  to  sit  down 
and  commence. 

At  first  she  touched  her  lute  with  a  faltering  hand,  but 
gathering  confidence  and  animation  as  she  proceeded,  drew 
forth  such  soft  aerial 3  harmony  that  all  present  could  scarce 
believe  it  mortal.  As  to  the  monarch,  who  had  already  con 
sidered  himself  in  the  world  of  spirits,  he  set  it  down  for 
some  angelic  melody  or  the  music  of  the  spheres.4  By  degrees 
the  theme  was  varied,  and  the  voice  of  the  minstrel  accom 
panied  the  instrument.  She  poured  forth  one  of  the  legendary 
ballads  treating  of  the  ancient  glories  of  the  Alhambra  and 
the  achievements  of  the  Moors.  Her  whole  soul  entered  into 
the  theme,  for  with  the  recollections  of  the  Alhambra  was 
associated  the  story  of  her  love.  The  funeral  chamber 
resounded  with  the  animating  strain.  It  entered  into  the 
gloomy  heart  of  the  monarch.  He  raised  his  head  and  gazed 

1  lanterns.  4  the  harmony  supposed  by  the  ancients 

ij  mournful.  to  be  produced  by  the  accordant  movements 

*  high  ;  lofty.  of  the  celestial  bodies. 


74      LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

around ;  he  sat  up  on  his  couch ;  his  eye  began  to  kindle ;  at 
length,  leaping  upon  the  floor,  he  called  for  sword  and  buckler. 

The  triumph  of  music,  or,  rather,  of  the  enchanted  lute,  was 
complete;  all  eyes"  sought  the  lovely  enchantress,  but  the  lute 
had  fallen  from  her  hand;  she  had  sunk  upon  the  earth,  and 
the  next  moment  was  clasped  to  the  bosom  of  Kuyz  de  Alarcon. 

The  nuptials  of  the  happy  couple  were  celebrated  soon 
afterward  with  great  splendor.  "But  hold — not  so  fast,"  I 
hear  the  reader  exclaim;  "this  is  jumping  to  the  end  of  a 
story  at  a  furious  rate!  First  let  us  know  how  the  Ruyz  de 
Alarcon  managed  to  account  to  Jacinta  for  his  long  neglect." 
Nothing  more  easy;  the  venerable,  time-honored  excuse,  the 
opposition  to  his  wishes  by  a  proud,  pragmatical 1  old  father; 
besides,  young  people  who  really  like  one  another  soon  come 
to  the  amicable  understanding,  and  bury  all  past  grievances 
when  once  they  meet. 

But  how  was  the  proud,  pragmatical  old  father  reconciled  to 
the  match ?  Oh!  as  to  that,  his  scruples  were  easily  overcome 
by  a  word  or  two  from  the  queen.  Besides,  the  lute  of 
Jacinta,  you  know,  possessed  a  magic  power,  and  could  con 
trol  the  most  stubborn  head  and  hardest  breast. 

And  what  came  of  the  enchanted  lute  ? 

Oh,  that  is  the  most  curious  matter  of  all,  and  plainly  proves 
the  truth  of  the  whole  story.  That  lute  remained  for  some 
time  in  the  family,  but  was  purloined  2  and  carried  off,  as  was 
supposed,  by  the  great  singer  Farinelli,  in  pure  jealousy.  At 
his  death  it  passed  into  other  hands  in  Italy,  who  were  ignorant 
of  its  mystic  powers,  and,  melting  down  the  silver,  transferred 
the  strings  to  an  old  Cremona  3  fiddle.  The  strings  still  retain 
something  of  their  magic  virtues.  A  word  in  the  reader's 
ear,  but  let  it  go  no  further — that  fiddle  is  now  bewitching  the 
whole  world;  it  is  the  fiddle  of  Paganini! 4 

1  meddlesome  (so  regarded).  4  (pah-gah-nee'nee),  celebrated  Italian  vi- 

2  stolen.  olinist,  1784-1840. 
*  fortified  city  of  Italy,  forty-eight  miles  southeast  of  Milan. 


THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  NOTARY. 

IN  former  times  there  ruled,  as  governor  of  the  Alhambra, 
a  doughty '  old  cavalier,  who,  from  having  lost  one  arm  in  the 
wars,  was  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  el  Gobernador 
Manco,  or  "the  one-armed  governor."  He,  in  fact,  prided 
himself  upon  being  an  old  soldier,  wore  his  mustaches  curled  up 
to  his  eyes,  a  pair  of  campaigning  boots,  and  a  Toledo 2  as  long 
as  a  spit,3  with  his  pocket-handkerchief  in  the  basket  hilt.4 

He  was,  moreover,  exceedingly  proud  and  punctilious,  and 
tenacious 5  of  all  his  privileges  and  dignities.  Under  his  sway 
the  immunities6  of  the  Alhambra  as  a  royal  residence  and 
domain  were  rigidly  exacted.  No  one  was  permitted  to  enter 
the  fortress  with  firearms,  or  even  with  a  sword  or  staff,  unless 
he  were  of  a  certain  rank ;  and  every  horseman  was  obliged  to 
dismount  at  the  gate,  and  lead  his  horse  by  the  bridle.  Now 
as  the  hill  of  the  Alhambra  rises  from  the  very  midst  of  the 
city  of  Granada,  being,  as  it  were,  an  excrescence 7  of  the  capital, 
it  must  at  all  times  be  somewhat  irksome 8  to  the  captain-gen 
eral,  who  commands  the  province,  to  have  thus  an  imperium 
in  imperio*  a  petty,  independent  post,  in  the  very  centre  of  his 
domains.  It  was  rendered  the  more  galling,  in  the  present 
instance,  from  the  irritable  jealousy  of  the  old  governor,  that 
took  fire  on  the  least  question  of  authority  and  jurisdiction; 
and  from  the  loose,  vagrant  character  of  the  people  who  had 
gradually  nestled  themselves  within  the  fortress,  as  in  a  sanc 
tuary,  and  thence  carried  on  a  system  of  roguery  and  depreda 
tion  at  the  expense  of  the  honest  inhabitants  of  the  city. 

1  strong  ;  valiant.  6  keeping  firm  hold. 

2  sword  made  at  Toledo.  •  special  privileges  or  exemptions. 

3  long,  pointed  iron  rod  for  roasting  meat.  »  an  irregular  growth. 
«  cover  for  hand  around  the  handle  or  hilt  8  tiresome  ;  annoying. 

of  a  sword.  *  empire  within  an  empire. 


76          THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  NOTARY. 

Thus  there  was  a  perpetual  feud  and  heart-burning  between 
the  captain-general  and  the  governor,  the  more  virulent  on 
the  part  of  the  latter,  inasmuch  as  the  smaller  of  two  neigh 
boring  potentates  is  always  the  most  captious  about  his  dignity. 
The  stately  palace  of  the  captain-general  stood  in  the  Plaza 
Nueva,  immediately  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  of  the  Alhambra, 
and  here  was  always  a  bustle  and  parade  of  guards  and  do 
mestics  and  city  functionaries.1  A  beetling  bastion2  of  the 
fortress  overlooked  the  palace  and  public  square  in  front  of  it; 
and  on  this  bastion  the  old  governor  would  occasionally  strut 
backwards  and  forwards,  with  his  Toledo  girded  by  his  side, 
keeping  a  wary  eye  down  upon  his  rival,  like  a  hawk  recon- 
noitering  his  quarry 3  from  his  nest  in  a  dry  tree. 

Whenever  he  descended  into  the  city  it  was  in  grand  parade, 
on  horseback,  surrounded  by  his  guards,  or  in  his  state  coach, 
an  ancient  and  unwieldy  Spanish  edifice  of  carved  timber  and 
gilt  leather,  drawn  by  eight  mules,  with  running  footmen, 
outriders,  and  lackey;  on  which  occasions  he  flattered  himself 
he  impressed  every  beholder  with  awe  and  admiration  as  vice 
gerent  of  the  king;  though  the  wits  of  Granada,  particularly 
those  who  loitered  about  the  palace  of  the  captain-general, 
were  apt  to  sneer  at  his  petty  parade,  and,  in  allusion  to  the 
vagrant  character  of  his  subjects,  to  greet  him  with  the  appel 
lation  "the  king  of  the  beggars. "  One  of  the  most  fruitful 
sources  of  dispute  between  these  two  doughty  rivals  was  the 
right  claimed  by  the  governor  to  have  all  things  passed  free  of 
duty  through  the  city,  that  were  intended  for  the  use  of  him 
self  or  his  garrison.  By  degrees  the  privilege  had  given  rise  to 
extensive  smuggling.  A  nest  of  contraband istas  took  up  their 
abode  in  the  hovels  of  the  fortress  and  the  numerous  caves  in 
its  vicinity,  and  drove  a  thriving  business  under  the  conni 
vance  of  the  soldiers  of  the  garrison. 

The  vigilance  of  the  captain -general  was  aroused.     He  con- 

1  persons  holding  office  ;  officers,  3  animal  hunted  for. 

2  projecting  portion  of  fort. 


THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  NOTARY.          77 

suited  his  legal  adviser  and  factotum,,  a  shrewd,  meddlesome 
escribano,  or  notary,  who  rejoiced  in  an  opportunity  of  per 
plexing  the  old  potentate  of  the  Alhambra,  and  involving  him 
in  a  maze  of  legal  subtil  ties.1  He  advised  the  captain-general 
to  insist  upon  the  right  of  examining  every  convoy 2  passing 
through  the  gates  of  his  city,  and  penned  a  long  letter  for  him 
in  vindication  of  the  right.  Governor  Manco  was  a  straight 
forward,  cut-and-thrust  old  soldier,  who  hated  an  escribano 
worse  than  the  devil,  and  this  one  in  particular  worse  than  all 
other  escribanos. 

"  What!  "  said  he,  curling  up  his  mustaches  fiercely,  "  does 
the  captain-general  set  his  man  of  the  pen  to  practise  confu 
sions  upon  me?  I'll  let  him  see  an  old  soldier  is  not  to  be 
baffled  by  schoolcraf t. " 

He  seized  his  pen  and  scrawled  a  short  letter  in  a  crabbed 
hand,  in  which,  without  deigning3  to  enter  into  argument,  he 
insisted  on  the  right  of  transit  free  of  search,  and  denounced 
vengeance  on  any  custom-house  officer  who  should  lay  his 
unhallowed  hand  on  any  convoy  protected  by  the  flag  of  the 
Alhambra.  While  this  question  was  agitated  between  the 
two  pragmatical  potentates,  it  so  happened  that  a  mule  laden 
with  supplies  for  the  fortress  arrived  one  day  at  the  gate  of 
Xenil,  by  which  it  was  to  traverse  a  suburb  of  the  city,  on 
its  way  to  the  Alhambra.  The  convoy  was  headed  by  a  testy 
old  corporal,  who  had  long  served  under  the  governor,  and 
was  a  man  after  his  own  heart;  as  rusty  and  stanch  as  an  old 
Toledo  blade. 

As  they  approached  the  gate  of  the  city,  the  corporal  placed 
the  banner  of  the  Alhambra  on  the  pack-saddle  of  the  mule, 
and,  drawing  himself  up  to  a  perfect  perpendicular,  advanced 
with  his  head  dressed  to  the  front,  but  with  the  wary  side- 
glance  of  a  cur  passing  through  hostile  ground,  and  ready  for 
a  snap  and  a  snarl. 

1  tricks  ;  artifices.  •  stooping  ;  condescending. 

*  train  of  wagons  engaged  in  transportation,  having  an  armed  escort. 


78         THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  NOTARY. 

"  Who  goes  there  ?  "  said  the  sentinel  at  the  gate. 

"Soldier  of  the  Alhambra  !  "  said  the  corporal,  without 
turning  his  head. 

"  What  have  you  in  charge  ?  " 

"  Provisions  for  the  garrison." 

"Proceed." 

The  corporal  marched  straight  forward,  followed  by  the  con 
voy,  but  had  not  advanced  many  paces  before  a  posse1  of 
custom-house  officers  rushed  out  of  a  small  toll-house. 

"  Hallo  there !  "  cried  the  leader.  "  Muleteer,  halt,  and  open 
those  packages." 

The  corporal  wheeled  round,  and  drew  himself  up  in  battle 
array.  "  Eespect  the  flag  of  the  Alhambra,"  said  he;  "  these 
things  are  for  the  governor." 

"  A  fig  for  the  governor,  and  a  fig  for  his  flag.  Muleteer, 
halt,  I  say." 

"  Stop  the  convoy  at  your  peril!  "  cried  the  corporal,  cocking 
his  musket.  "  Muleteer,  proceed." 

The  muleteer  gave  his  beast  a  hearty  thwack ;  the  custom 
house  officer  sprang  forward  and  seized  the  halter;  whereupon 
the  corporal  levelled  his  piece,  and  shot  him  dead. 

The  street  was  immediately  in  an  uproar. 

The  old  corporal  was  seized,  and  after  undergoing  sundry 
kicks  and  cuffs  and  cudgellings,  which  are  generally  given 
impromptu 2  by  the  mob  in  Spain,  as  a  foretaste  of  the  after 
penalties  of  the  law,  he  was  loaded  with  irons,  and  conducted 
to  the  city  prison;  while  his  comrades  were  permitted  to  pro 
ceed  with  the  convoy,  after  it  had  been  well  rummaged,  to  the 
Alhambra. 

The  old  governor  was  in  a  towering  passion  when  he  heard 
of  this  insult  to  his  flag  and  capture  of  his  corporal.  For 
a  time  he  stormed  about  the  Moorish  halls,  and  vapored 
about  the  bastions,  and  looked  down  fire  and  sword  upon  the 
palace  of  the  captain-general.  Having  vented  the  first  ebulli- 

1  number  ;  group  ;  squad.  2  off-hand  ;  without  previous  arrangement. 


THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  NOTARY.          70 

tion  '  of  his  wrath,  lie  despatched  a  message  demanding  the  sur 
render  of  the  corporal,  as  to  him  alone  belonged  the  right  of 
sitting  in  judgment  on  the  offences  of  those  under  his  com 
mand.  The  captain-general,  aided  by  the  pen  of  the  delighted 
escribano,  replied  at  great  length,  arguing  that  as  the  offence 
had  been  committed  within  the  walls  of  his  city,  and  against  one 
of  his  civil  officers,  it  was  clearly  within  his  proper  jurisdic 
tion.  The  governor  rejoined  by  a  repetition  of  his  demand; 
the  captain-general  gave  a  sur-re joinder 2  of  still  greater  length 
and  legal  acumen;3  the  governor  became  hotter  and  more 
peremptory  in  his  demands,  and  the  captain-general  cooler  and 
more  copious  in  his  replies;  until  the  old  lion-hearted  soldier 
absolutely  roared  with  fury  at  being  thus  entangled  in  the 
meshes  of  legal  controversy. 

While  the  subtle  escribano  was  thus  amusing  himself  at  the 
expense  of  the  governor,  he  was  conducting  the  trial  of  the 
corporal,  who,  mewed  up  in  a  narrow  dungeon  of  the  prison, 
had  merely  a  small  grated  window  at  which  to  show  his  iron- 
bound  visage,  and  receive  the  consolations  of  his  friends. 

A  mountain  of  written  testimony  was  diligently  heaped  up, 
according  to  Spanish  form,  by  the  indefatigable4  escribano; 
the  corporal  was  completely  overwhelmed  by  it.  He  was  con 
victed  of  murder,  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged. 

It  was  in  vain  the  governor  sent  down  remonstrance  and 
menace  from  the  Alhambra.  The  fatal  day  was  at  hand,  and 
the  corporal  was  put  in  capilla,  that  is  to  say,  in  the  chapel  of 
the  prison,  as  is  always  done  with  culprits  the  day  before 
execution,  that  they  may  meditate  on  their  approaching  end 
and  repent  them  of  their  sins. 

Seeing  things  drawing  to  extremity,  the  old  governor  deter 
mined  to  attend  to  the  affair  in  person.  For  this  purpose  he 
ordered  out  his  carriage  of  state,  and,  surrounded  by  his 
guards,  rumbled  down  the  avenue  of  the  Alhambra  into  the 

1  violent  display  ;  sudden  outburst.  s  shrewdness  ;  keenness. 

2  answer  to  a  rejoinder.  4  tireless. 


BO          THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  NOTARY. 

city.  Driving  to  the  house  of  the  escribano,  he  summoned 
him  to  the  portal. 

The  eye  of  the  old  governor  gleamed  like  a  coal  at  beholding 
the  smirking  man  of  the  law  advancing  with  an  air  of  exulta 
tion.1 

"  What  is  this  I  bear,"  cried  he,  "  that  you  are  about  to  put 
to  death  one  of  my  soldiers  ?  ' ' 

"All  according  to  law;  all  in  strict  form  of  justice,"  said 
the  self-sufficient  escribano,  chuckling  and  rubbing  his  hands. 
'  *  I  can  show  your  excellency  the  written  testimony  in  the 
case. ' ' 

' '  Fetch  it  hither, ' '  said  the  governor.  The  escribano  bustled 
into  his  office,  delighted  with  having  another  opportunity  of 
displaying  his  ingenuity a  at  the  expense  of  the  hard-headed 
veteran. 

He  returned  with  a  satchel  full  of  papers,  and  began  to  read 
a  long  deposition  with  professional  volubility.  By  this  time  a 
crowd  had  collected,  listening  with  outstretched  necks  and 
gaping  mouths. 

' '  Prithee,  man,  get  into  the  carriage,  out  of  this  pestilent 
throng,  that  I  may  the  better  hear  thee,"  said  the  governor. 

The  escribano  entered  the  carriage,  when,  in  a  twinkling, 
the  door  was  closed;  the  coachman  smacked  his  whip;  mules, 
carriage,  guards  and  all  dashed  off  at  a  thundering  rate,  leav 
ing  the  crowd  in  gaping  wonderment;  nor  did  the  governor 
pause  until  he  had  lodged  his  prey  in  one  of  the  strongest 
dungeons  of  the  Alhambra. 

He  then  sent  down  a  flag  of  truce  in  military  style,  proposing 
a  cartel  or  exchange  of  prisoners — the  corporal  for  the  notary. 
The  pride  of  the  captain-general  was  piqued;  he  returned  a 
contemptuous 3  refusal,  and  forthwith  caused  a  gallows,  tall  and 
strong,  to  be  erected  in  the  centre  of  the  Plaza  Nueva,  for  the 
execution  of  the  corporal. 

"  Oho !    Is  that  the  game  ?  "  said  Governor  Manco.    He  gave 

»  triumph.  »  power  of  ready  invention.  »  scornful. 


THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  NOTARY.        .  81 

orders,  and  immediately  a  gibbet  was  reared  cm  the  verge  of 
the  great  beetling  bastion  that  overlooked  the  Plaza.  "  Now," 
said  he  in  a  message  to  the  captain-general,  "hang  my  soldier 
when  you  please;  but  at  the  same  time  that  he  is  swung  off  in  the 
square,  look  up  to  see  your  escribano  dangling  against  the  sky." 

The  captain-general  was  inflexible ; 1  troops  were  paraded  in 
the  square;  the  drums  beat;  the  bell  tolled.  An  immense  mul 
titude  of  amateurs  gathered  together  to  behold  the  execution. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  governor  paraded  his  garrison  on  the 
bastion,  and  tolled  the  funeral  dirge  of  the  notary  from  the 
Torre  de  la  Campana,  or  Tower  of  the  Bell. 

The  notary's  wife  pressed  through  the  crowd  with  a  whole 
progeny  of  little  embryo  escribanos  at  her  heels,  and  throwing 
herself  at  the  feet  of  the  captain-general,  implored  him  not  to 
sacrifice  the  life  of  her  husband,  and  the  welfare  of  herself 
and  her  numerous  little  ones,  to  a  point  of  pride.  "  For  you 
know  the  old  governor  too  well,"  said  she,  "to  doubt  that  he 
will  put  his  threat  in  execution,  if  you  hang  the  soldier." 

The  captain-general  was  overpowered  by  her  tears  and 
lamentations,  and  the  clamors  of  her  callow  brood.  The  cor 
poral  was  sent  up  to  the  Alhambra,  under  a  guard,  in  his 
gallows  garb,  like  hooded  friar,  but  with  head  erect  and  a  face 
of  iron.  The  escribano  was  demanded  in  exchange,  according 
to  the  cartel.  The  once  bustling  and  self-sufficient  man  of  the 
law  was  drawn  forth  from  his  dungeon  more  dead  than  alive. 
All  his  flippancy  and  conceit  had  evaporated;2  his  hair,  it  is 
said,  had  nearly  turned  gray  with  affright,  and  he  had  a  down 
cast,  dogged  look,  as  if  he  still  felt  the  halter  round  his  neck. 

The  old  governor  stuck  his  one  arm  akimbo,  and  for  a 
moment  surveyed  him  with  an  iron  smile.  "  Henceforth,  my 
friend,"  said  he,  "  moderate  your  zeal  in  hurrying  others  to 
the  gallows;  be  not  too  certain  of  your  safety,  even  though  you 
should  have  the  law  on  your  side;  and  above  all,  take  care  how 
you  play  off  your  schoolcraft  another  time  upon  an  old  soldier. " 

1  unbending  ;  determined.  •  disappeared  (literally  in  vapor). 


GOVERNOR  MANGO   AND   THE   SOLDIER. 

WHILE  Governor  Manco,  or  "the  one-armed,"  kept  up  a 
show  of  military  state  in  the  Alhambra,  he  became  nettled  at 
the  reproaches  continually  cast  upon  his  fortress,  of  being  a 
nestling  place  of  rogues  and  contrabandistas.  On  a  sudden, 
the  old  potentate  determined  on  reform,  and,  setting  vigor 
ously  to  work,  ejected  whole  nests  of  vagabonds  out  of  the 
fortress  and  the  gypsy  caves  with  which  the  surrounding  hills 
are  honeycombed.  He  sent  out  soldiers,  also,  to  patrol  the 
avenues  and  footpaths,  with  orders  to  take  up  all  suspicious 
persons. 

One  bright  summer  morning,  a  patrol,  consisting  of  the  testy 
old  corporal  who  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  affair  of  the 
notary,  a  trumpeter  and  two  privates,  was  seated  under  the 
garden  wall  of  the  Generalife,  beside  the  road  which  leads 
down,  from  the  mountain  of  the  sun,  when  they  heard  the 
tramp  of  a  horse,  and  a  male  voice  singing  in  rough,  though 
not  unmusical  tones,  an  old  Castilian  campaigning  song. 

Presently  they  beheld  a  sturdy,  sunburnt  fellow,  clad  in  the 
ragged  garb  of  a  foot-soldier,  leading  a  powerful  Arabian  horse, 
caparisoned  in  the  ancient  Moresco  fashion. 

Astonished  at  the  sight  of  a  strange  soldier  descending,  steed 
in  hand,  from  that  solitary  mountain,  the  corporal  stepped 
forth  and  challenged  him. 

" Who  goes  there?" 

"A  friend." 

"  Who  and  what  are  you  ?  " 

"A  poor  soldier  just  from  the  wars,  with  a  cracked  crown 
and  empty  purse  for  a  reward." 

By  this  time  they  were  enabled  to  view  him  more  narrowly. 
He  had  a  black  patch  across  his  forehead,  which,  with  a  grizzled 


GOVERNOR   MANGO  AND  THE  SOLDIER.  83 

beard,  added  to  a  certain  dare-devil  cast  of  countenance,,  while 
a  slight  squint  threw  into  the  whole  an  occasional  gleam  of 
roguish  good  humor. 

Having  answered  the  questions  of  the  patrol,,  the  soldier 
seemed  to  consider  himself  entitled  to  make  others  in  return. 
* '  May  I  ask, ' '  said  he,  ' i  what  city  is  that  which  I  see  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill?" 

''What  city?"  cried  the  trumpeter.  "Come,  that's  too 
bad.  Here's  a  fellow  lurking  about  the  mountain  of  the  sun, 
and  demands  the  name  of  the  great  city  of  Granada!  " 

' i  Granada !  can  it  be  possible  ?  ' ' 

''Perhaps  not!"  rejoined  the  trumpeter;  "and  perhaps 
you  have  no  idea  that  yonder  are  the  towers  of  the  Alham- 
bra." 

"Son  of  a  trumpet,"  replied  the  stranger,  "do  not  trifle 
with  me ;  if  this  be  indeed  the  Alhambra,  I  have  some  strange 
matters  to  reveal  to  the  governor." 

"  You  will  have  an  opportunity,"  said  the  corporal,  "  for  we 
mean  to  take  you  before  him."  By  this  time  the  trumpeter 
had  seized  the  bridle  of  the  steed,  the  two  privates  had  each 
secured  an  arm  of  the  soldier,  the  corporal  put  himself  in 
front,  gave  the  word,  "Forward — march!"  and  away  they 
marched  for  the  Alhambra. 

The  sight  of  a  ragged  foot-soldier  and  a  fine  Arabian  horse, 
brought  in  captive  by  the  patrol,  attracted  the  attention  of 
all  the  idlers  of  the  fortress,  and  of  those  gossip  groups  that 
generally  assemble  about  wells  and  fountains  at  early  dawn. 
The  wheel  of  the  cistern  paused  in  its  rotations,  and  the  slip 
shod  servant-maid  stood  gaping,  with  pitcher  in  hand,  as  the 
corporal  passed  by  with  his  prize.  A  motley  train  gradually 
gathered  in  the  rear  of  the  escort. 

Knowing  nods  and  winks  and  conjectures  passed  from  one 
to  another.  "It  is  a  deserter,"  said  one;  "a  contraband- 
ista,"  said  another;  "a  bandalero,"1  said  the  third;  until 

1  highway  robber. 


84  GOVERNOR   MANGO  AND   THE   SOLDIER, 

it  was  affirmed  that  the  captain  of  a  desperate  band  of  robbers 
had  been  captured  by  the  prowess  '  of  the  corporal  and  his 
patrol.  '  *  Well,  well, ' '  said  the  old  crones,  one  to  another, 
"  captain  or  not,  let  him  get  out  of  the  grasp  of  old  Governor 
Manco  if  he  can,  though  he  is  but  one-handed." 

Governor  Manco  was  seated  in  one  of  the  inner  halls  of  the 
Alhambra,  taking  his  morning's  cup  of  chocolate  in  company 
with  his  confessor,  a  fat  Franciscan 2  friar  from  the  neighboring 
convent.  A  derau re,  dark-  eyed  damsel  of  Malaga,3  the  daughter 
of  his  housekeeper,  was  attending  upon  him.  The  world 
hinted  that  the  damsel  had  found  out  a  soft  spot  in  the  iron 
heart  of  the  old  governor,  and  held  complete  control  over  him. 

When  word  was  brought  that  a  suspicious  stranger  had  been 
taken  lurking  about  the  fortress,  and  was  actually  in  the  outer 
court,  in  durance 4  of  the  corporal,  waiting  the  pleasure  of  his 
excellency,  the  pride  and  stateliness  of  office  swelled  the  bosom 
of  the  governor.  Giving  back  his  chocolate  cup  into  the  hands 
of  the  demure  damsel,  he  called  for  his  basket-hilted  sword, 
girded  it  to  his  side,  twirled  up  his  mustaches,  took  his  seat 
in  a  large  high-backed  chair,  assumed  a  bitter  and  forbidding 
aspect,  and  ordered  the  prisoner  into  his  presence.  The  soldier 
was  brought  in,  still  closely  pinioned  5  by  his  captors,  and 
guarded  by  the  corporal.  He  maintained,  however,  a  resolute 
self-confident  air,  and  returned  the  sharp,  scrutinizing  6  look 
of  the  governor  with  an  easy  squint,  which  by  no  means 
pleased  the  punctilious  7  old  potentate. 

"  Well,  culprit,"  said  the  governor,  after  he  had  regarded 
him  for  a  moment  in  silence,  "  what  have  you  to  say  for  your 
self — who  are  you  ?  " 

1  gallantry  ;  fearlessness  of  danger.  3  seaport  city  on  a  bay  of  the  Mediter- 

9  the  religious  order  of  the  Franciscans  ranean,  sixty-five  miles  east  northeast  of 

was  founded  in  1210  by  Francis  of  Assissi,  Gibraltar. 

a  celebrated  Italian   monk  and  preacher.  4  custody ;  guarding. 

After  a  serious  illness  in   his  youth,    he  8  with  arms  bound  to  the  body. 

turned  to  a  life  of  ascetic  devotion.    He  6  examining  very  carefully. 

died  October  4,  1226.     He  was  canonized  7  yiven  to  nicety  or  exactness  in  forms  of 

by  Gregory  IX.  in  1228.  conduct. 


GOVERNOR   MANGO   AND  THE  SOLDIER.  85 

"  A  soldier,  just  from  the  wars,  who  has  brought  away 
nothing  but  scars  and  bruises." 

"A  soldier?  Humph!  A  foot-soldier  by  your  garb.  I  under 
stand  you  have  a  fine  Arabian  horse.  I  presume  you  brought 
him  too  from  the  wars,  besides  your  scars  and  bruises." 

"  May  it  please  your  excellency,  I  have  something  strange 
to  tell  about  that  horse.  Indeed  I  have  one  of  the  most  won 
derful  things  to  relate.  Something,  too,  that  concerns  the 
security  of  this  fortress,  indeed  of  all  Granada.  But  it  is  a 
matter  to  be  imparted  only  to  your  private  ear,  or  in  the  pres 
ence  of  such  only  as  are  in  your  confidence." 

The  governor  considered  for  a  moment,  and  then  directed 
the  corporal  and  his  men  to  withdraw,  but  to  post  themselves 
outside  of  the  door,  and  be  ready  at  a  call.  "  This  holy 
friar,"  said  he,  "is  my  confessor;  you  may  say  anything  in 
his  presence;  and  this  damsel,"  nodding  towards  the  hand 
maid,  who  had  loitered  with  an  air  of  great  curiosity — "this 
damsel  is  of  great  secrecy  and  discretion,  and  to  be  trusted 
with  anything." 

The  soldier  gave  a  glance  between  a  squint  and  a  leer  at  the 
demure  handmaid.  "I  am  perfectly  willing,"  said  he,  " that 
the  damsel  should  remain." 

AVhen  all  the  rest  had  withdrawn,  the  soldier  commenced 
his  story.  He  was  a  fluent,  smooth-tongued  varlet,  and  had 
a  command  of  language  above  his  apparent  rank. 

"May  it  please  your  excellency,"  said  he,  "I  am,  as  I 
before  observed,  a  soldier,  and  have  seen  some  hard  service; 
but  my  term  of  enlistment  being  expired,  I  was  discharged, 
not  long  since,  from  the  army  at  Valladolid,1  and  set  out  on 
foot  for  my  native  village  in  Andalusia.  Yesterday  evening 
the  sun  went  down  as  I  was  traversing  a  great  dry  plain  of  Old 
Castile." 

"  Hold !  "  cried  the  governor.  "  What  is  this  you  say  ?  Old 
Castile  is  some  two  or  three  hundred  miles  from  this." 

>  city  of  Spam,  one  hundred  miles  northwest  of  Madrid.    Columbus  died  here  in  1506. 


86  GOVERNOR   MANGO   AND  THE   SOLDIER. 

"  Even  so,"  replied  the  soldier,  coolly;  "  I  told  your  excel 
lency  I  had  strange  things  to  relate;  but  not  more  strange 
than  true;  as  your  excellency  will  find,  if  you  will  deign  me  a 
patient  hearing." 

"  Proceed,  culprit,"  said  the  governor,  twirling  up  his  mus 
taches. 

"As  the  sun  went  down,"  continued  the  soldier,  "least 
my  eyes  about  in  search  of  quarters  for  the  night,  but  as  far 
as  my  sight  could  reach,  there  were  no  signs  of  habitation.  I 
saw  that  I  should  have  to  make  my  bed  on  the  naked  plain, 
with  my  knapsack  for  a  pillow;  but  your  excellency  is  an  old 
soldier,  and  knows  that,  to  one  who  has  been  in  the  wars,  such 
a  night's  lodging  is  110  great  hardship." 

The  governor  nodded  assent,  as  he  drew  his  pocket-handker 
chief  out  of  the  basket  hilt,  to  drive  away  a  fly  that  buzzed 
about  his  nose. 

"  Well,  to  make  a  long  story  short,"  continued  the  soldier, 
"  I  trudged  forward  for  several  miles  until  I  came  to  a  bridge 
over  a  deep  ravine,  through  which  ran  a  little  thread  of  water, 
almost  dried  up  by  the  summer  heat.  At  one  end  of  the 
bridge  was  a  Moorish  tower,  the  upper  end  all  in  ruins,  but 
a  vault  in  the  foundation  quite  entire.  Here,  thinks  I,  is  a 
good  place  to  make  a  halt;  so  I  went  down  to  the  stream, 
took  a  hearty  drink,  for  the  water  was  pure  and  sweet,  and  I 
was  parched  with  thirst;  then,  opening  my  wallet,  I  took  out 
an  onion  and  a  few  crusts,  which  were  all  my  provisions,  and 
seating  myself  on  a  stone  on  the  margin  of  the  stream,  began 
to  make  my  supper,  intending  afterwards  to  quarter  myself 
for  the  night  in  the  vault  of  the  tower;  and  capital  quarters 
they  would  have  been  for  a  campaigner  just  from  the  wars,  as 
your  excellency,  who  is  an  old  soldier,  may  suppose." 

"I  have  put  up  gladly  with  worse  in  my  time,"  said  the 
governor,  returning  his  pocket-handkerchief  into  the  hilt  of 
his  sword. 

"While  I  was  quietly  crunching  my  crust,"  pursued  the 


GOVERNOR   MANCO   AND  THE   SOLDIER.  87 

soldier,  "  I  heard  something  stir  within  the  vault.  I  listened; 
it  was  the  tramp  of  a  horse.  By  and  by  a  man  came  forth 
from  a  door  in  the  foundation  of  the  tower,  close  by  the 
water's  edge,  leading  a  powerful  horse  by  the  bridle.  I  could 
not  well  make  out  what  he  was  by  the  starlight.  It  had  a 
suspicious  look  to  be  lurking  among  the  ruins  of  a  tower,  in 
that  wild,  solitary  place.  He  might  be  a  mere  wayfarer,  like 
myself;  he  might  be  a  contrabandista ;  he  might  be  a  banda- 
lero!  What  of  that?  Thank  heaven  and  my  poverty,  I  had 
nothing  to  lose;  so  I  sat  still  and  crunched  my  crust. 

"  He  led  his  horse  to  the  water,  close  by  where  I  was  sitting, 
so  that  I  had  a  fair  opportunity  of  reconnoitering  him.  To 
my  surprise  he  was  dressed  in  a  Moorish  garb,  with  a  cuirass  of 
steel,  and  a  polished  skull-cap  that  I  distinguished  by  the 
reflection  of  the  stars  upon  it.  His  horse,  too,  was  harnessed 
in  the  Moresco  fashion,  with  great  shovel  stirrups.  He  led 
him,  as  I  said,  to  the  side  of  the  stream,  into  which  the  ani 
mal  plunged  his  head  almost  to  the  eyes,  and  drank  until  I 
thought  he  would  have  burst. 

'•'Comrade,'  said  I,  'your  steed  drinks  well;  it's  a  good 
sign  when  a  horse  plunges  his  muzzle  bravely  into  the  water. ' 

"  'He  may  well  drink,'  said  the  stranger,  speaking  with  a 
Moorish  accent;  '  it  is  a  good  year  since  he  had  his  last 
draught.' 

"  '  By  Santiago,' '  said  I,  ( that  beats  even  the  camels  I  have 
seen  in  Africa.  But  come,  you  seem  to  be  something  of  a 
soldier;  will  you  sit  down  and  take  part  of  a  soldier's  fare?' 
In  fact,  I  felt  the  want  of  a  companion  in  this  lonely  place, 
and  was  willing  to  put  up  with  an  infidel.  Besides,  as  your 
excellency  well  knows,  a  soldier  is  never  very  particular  about 
the  faith  of  his  company,  and  soldiers  of  all  countries  are 
comrades  on  peaceable  ground." 

The  governor  again  nodded  assent. 

"  Well,  as  I  was  saying,  I  invited  him  to  share  my  supper, 

1  Saint  Jago  (Saint  James). 


88  GOVERNOR   MANGO  AND  THE   SOLDIER. 

such  as  it  was,  for  I  could  not  do  less  in  common  hospitality. 
'  I  have  no  time  to  pause  for  meat  or  drink,'  said  he;  '  I  have 
a  long  journey  to  make  before  morning. ' 

"  '  In  which  direction  ?  '  said  I. 

"  '  Andalusia/  said  he. 

"  '  Exactly  my  route,,'  said  I;  'so,  as  you  won't  stop  and  eat 
with  me,  perhaps  you  will  let  me  mount  and  ride  with  you.  I 
see  your  horse  is  of  a  powerful  frame,  I'll  warrant  he'll  carry 
double. ' 

"'Agreed,'  said  the  trooper;  and  it  would  not  have  been 
civil  and  soldierlike  to  refuse,  especially  as  I  had  offered  to 
share  my  supper  with  him.  So  up  he  mounted,  and  up  I 
mounted  behind  him. 

"  '  Hold  fast,'  said  he;  '  my  steed  goes  like  the  wind.' 

"  '  Never  fear  me,'  said  I,  and  so  off  we  set. 

"  From  a  walk  the  horse  soon  passed  to  a  trot,  from  a  trot 
to  a  gallop,  and  from  a  gallop  to  a  harum-scarum  scamper.  It 
seemed  as  if  rocks,  trees,  houses,  every  thing,  flew  hurry- 
scurry  behind  us. 

"  '  What  town  is  this  ?  '  said  I. 

"  'Segovia,'  1  said  he;  and  before  the  word  was  out  of  his 
mouth,  the  towers  of  Segovia  were  out  of  sight.  We  swept 
up  the  Guadarama  2  Mountains,  and  down  by  the  Escurial;  3 
and  we  skirted  the  walls  of  Madrid,4  and  we  scoured  away 
across  the  plains  of  La  Mancha.  In  this  way  we  went  up  hill 
and  down  dale,  by  towers  and  cities,  all  buried  in  deep  sleep, 
and  across  mountains  and  plains  and  rivers  just  glimmering 
in  the  starlight. 

"  To  make  a  long  story  short,  and  not  to  fatigue  your  excel 
lency,  the  trooper  suddenly  pulled  up  on  the  side  of  a  moun- 

J  in  Old  Castile,  forty-five  miles  northwest  a  magnificent  mausoleum  for  the  members 

of  Madrid.  of  the  royal  family,  and  an  extensive  collec- 

2  name  of  mountains  northwest  of  Madrid,  tionof  rare  paintings,  books,  etc.    It  was 

3  name  of  town  and  province  northwest  set  on  fire  by  lightning  and  partially  de- 
of  Madrid.    Remarkable  for  the  celebrated  stroyed  in  1872. 

monastery  and  palace  of  the  Escurial  in  its  4  capital  of  Spain,  in  central  part,  on  Man- 
vicinity,  built  by  Philip  II.,  which  contains  zanares  River, 


GOVERNOR   MANGO   AND   THE   SOLDIER.  89 

tain.  '  Here  we  are, '  said  he,  '  at  the  end  of  our  journey. '  I 
looked  about,  but  could  see  no  signs  of  habitation;  nothing 
but  the  mouth  of  a  cavern.  "While  I  looked,  I  saw  multitudes 
of  people  in  Moorish  dresses,  some  on  horseback,  some  on 
foot,  arriving*,  as  if  borne  by  the  wind,  from  all  points  of  the 
compass,  and  hurrying  into  the  mouth  of  the  cavern  like  bees 
into  a  hive.  Before  I  could  ask  a  question,  the  trooper  struck 
his  long  Moorish  spurs  into  the  horse's  flanks,  and  dashed  in 
with  the  throng.  We  passed  along  a  steep  winding  way  that 
descended  into  the  very  bowels  of  the  mountain.  As  we 
pushed  on,  a  light  began  to  glimmer  up,  by  little  and  little, 
like  the  first  glimmerings  of  day;  but  what  caused  it  I  could 
not  discern.  It  grew  stronger  and  stronger,  and  enabled  me 
to  see  every  thing  around.  I  now  noticed,  as  we  passed  along, 
great  caverns,  opening  to  the  right  and  left,  like  halls  in  an 
arsenal.  In  some  there  were  shields  and  helmets  and  cui 
rasses  and  lances  and  cimeters,  hanging  against  the  walls;  in 
others  were  great  heaps  of  warlike  munitions  and  camp 
equipage  lying  upon  the  ground. 

"  It  would  have  done  your  excellency's  heart  good,  being  an 
old  soldier,  to  have  seen  such  grand  provision  for  war.  Then, 
in  other  caverns,  there  were  long  rows  of  horsemen  armed  to 
the  teeth,  with  lances  raised  and  banners  unfurled,  all  ready 
for  the  field;  but  they  all  sat  motionless  in  their  saddles,  like 
so  many  statues.  In  other  halls  were  warriors  sleeping  on  the 
ground  beside  their  horses,  and  foot-soldiers  in  groups  ready 
to  fall  into  the  ranks.  All  were  in  old-fashioned  Moorish 
dresses  and  armor. 

"  Well,  your  excellency,  to  cut  a  long  story  short,  we  at 
length  entered  an  immense  cavern,  or  I  may  say  palace,  of 
grotto  work,  the  walls  of  which  seemed  to  be  veined  with 
gold  and  silver,  and  to  sparkle  with  diamonds  and  sapphires 
and  all  kinds  of  precious  stones.  At  the  upper  end  sat  a 
Moorish  king  on  a  golden  throne,  with  his  nobles  on  each  side, 
and  a  guard  of  African  blacks  with  drawn  cimeters.  All  the 


90  GOVERNOR   MANGO   AND  THE   SOLDIER. 

crowd  that  continued  to  flock  in,  and  amounted  to  thousands 
and  thousands,,  passed  one  by  one  before  his  throne,  each  pay 
ing  homage  as  he  passed.  Some  of  the  multitude  were  dressed 
in  magnificent  robes,  without  stain  or  blemish,  and  sparkling 
with  jewels;  others  in  burnished  and  enamelled  armor;  while 
others  were  in  mouldered  and  mildewed  garments,  and  in 
armor  all  battered  and  dented,  and  covered  with  rust. 

"I  had  hitherto  held  my  tongue,  for  your  excellency  well 
knows  it  is  not  for  a  soldier  to  ask  many  questions  when  on 
duty,  but  I  could  keep  silent  no  longer. 

"  '  Prithee,  comrade,'  said  I,  'what  is  the  meaning  of  all 
this?' 

"  '  This,'  said  the  trooper,  '  is  a  great  and  fearful  mystery. 
Know,  0  Christian,  that  you  see  before  you  the  court  and 
army  of  Boabdil,  the  last  king  of  Granada. ' 

"  '  What  is  this  you  tell  me  ?  '  cried  I.  '  Boabdil  and  his 
court  were  exiled  from  the  land  hundreds  of  years  agone,  and 
all  died  in  Africa. ' 

"'So  it  is  recorded  in  your  lying  chronicles,'  replied  the 
Moor;  'but  know  that  Boabdil  and  the  warriors  who  made 
the  last  struggle  for  Granada  were  all  shut  up  in  the  mountain 
by  powerful  enchantment.  As  for  the  king  and  army  that 
marched  forth  from  Granada  at  the  time  of  the  surrender, 
they  were  a  mere  phantom  train  of  spirits  and  demons,  per 
mitted  to  assume  those  shapes  to  deceive  the  Christian  sover 
eigns.  And,  furthermore,  let  me  tell  you,  friend,  that  all  Spain 
is  a  country  under  the  power  of  enchantment.  There  is  not 
a  mountain  cave,  not  a  lonely  watch-tower  in  the  plains,  nor 
ruined  castle  on  the  hills,  but  has  some  spellbound  warriors 
sleeping  from  age  to  age  within  its  vaults,  until  the  sins  are 
expiated  for  which  Allah  permitted  the  dominion  to  pass  for  a 
time  out  of  the  hands  of  the  faithful.  Once  every  year,  on  the 
eve  of  St.  John,  they  are  released  from  enchantment,  from  sun 
set  to  sunrise,  and  permitted  to  repair  here  to  pay  homage  to 
their  sovereign ;  and  the  crowds  which  you  beheld  swarming 


GOVERNOR   MANGO   AND  THE   SOLDIER.  91 

into  the  cavern  are  Moslem  warriors  from  their  haunts  in  all 
parts  of  Spain.  For  my  part,  you  saw  the  ruined  tower  of  the 
bridge  in  Old  Castile,  where  I  have  now  wintered  and  sum 
mered  for  many  hundred  years,  and  where  I  must  be  back 
again  by  daybreak.  As  to  the  battalions  of  horse  and  foot 
which  you  beheld  drawn  up  in  array  in  the  neighboring  cav 
erns,  they  are  the  spellbound  warriors  of  Granada.  It  is 
written  in  the  book  of  fate,  that,  when  the  enchantment  is 
broken,  Boabdil  will  descend  from  the  mountain,  at  the  head 
of  this  army,  resume  his  throne  in  the  Alhambra,  and  his  sway 
of  Granada,  and,  gathering  together  the  enchanted  warriors, 
from  all  parts  of  Spain,  will  reconquer  the  Peninsula  '  and 
restore  it  to  Moslem  rule. ' 

"  '  And  when  shall  this  happen  ?  '  said  I. 

'' "  Allah  alone  knows.  We  had  hoped  that  the  day  of  deliv 
erance  was  at  hand;  but  there  reigns  at  present  a  vigilant 
governor  in  the  Alhambra,  a  stanch  old  soldier,  well  known  as 
Governor  Manco.  While  such  a  warrior  holds  command  of 
the  very  outpost,  and  stands  ready  to  check  the  first  irruption 
from  the  mountain,  I  fear  Boabdil  and  his  soldiery  must  be 
content  to  rest  upon  their  arms.'  " 

Here  the  governor  raised  himself  somewhat  perpendicularly, 
adjusted  his  sword,  and  twirled  up  his  mustaches. 

"  To  make  a  long  story  short,  and  not  to  fatigue  your  excel 
lency,  the  trooper,  having  given  me  this  account,  dismounted 
from  his  steed. 

"  '  Tarry  here, '  said  he,  'and  guard  my  steed  while  I  go 
and  bow  the  knee  to  Boabdil.'  So  saying,  he  strode  away 
among  the  throng  that  pressed  forward  to  the  throne. 

"'What's  to  be  done?'  thought  I,  when  thus  left  to 
myself;  'shall  I  wait  here  until  this  infidel  returns  to  whisk 
me  of!  on  his  goblin  steed,  the  Lord  knows  where;  or  shall  I 
make  the  most  of  my  time  and  beat  a  retreat  from  this  hob 
goblin  community  ? '  A  soldier's  mind  is  soon  made  up,  as 

1  Spain  and  Portugal. 


92  GOVERNOR   MANGO   AND  THE   SOLDIER 

your  excellency  well  knows.  As  to  the  horse,  he  belonged  to 
an  avowed  enemy  of  the  faith  and  the  realm,  and  was  a  fair 
prize  according  to  the  rules  of  war.  So  hoisting  myself  from 
the  crupper  '  into  the  saddle,  I  turned  the  reins,  struck  the 
Moorish  stirrups  into  the  sides  of  the  steed,  and  put  him  to 
make  the  best  of  his  way  out  of  the  passage  by  which  he  had 
entered.  As  we  scoured  by  the  halls  where  the  Moslem  horse 
men  sat  in  motionless  battalions,  I  thought  I  heard  the  clang 
of  armor  and  a  hollow  murmur  of  voices.  I  gave  the  steed 
another  taste  of  the  stirrups  and  doubled  my  speed.  There 
was  now  a  sound  behind  me  like  a  rushing  blast;  I  heard  the 
clatter  of  a  thousand  hoofs;  a  countless  throng  overtook  me. 
I  was  borne  along  in  the  press,  and  hurled  forth  from  the 
mouth  of  the  cavern,  while  thousands  of  shadowy  forms  were 
swept  off  in  every  direction  by  the  four  winds  of  heaven. 

"  In  the  whirl  and  confusion  of  the  scene  I  was  thrown 
senseless  to  the  earth.  When  I  came  to  myself  I  was  lying 
on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  with  the  Arabian  steed  standing  beside 
me;  for  in  falling,  my  arm  had  slipped  within  the  bridle, 
which,  I  presume,  prevented  his  whisking  off  to  Old  Castile. 

"  Your  excellency  may  easily  judge  of  my  surprise,  on  look 
ing  round,  to  behold  hedges  of  aloes  and  Indian  figs  and  other 
proofs  of  a  southern  climate,  and  to  see  a  great  city  below  me, 
with  towers  and  palaces  and  a  grand  cathedral. 

"I  descended  the  hill  cautiously,  leading  my  steed,  for  I 
was  afraid  to  mount  him  again,  lest  he  should  play  me  some 
slippery  trick.  As  I  descended,  I  met  with  your  patrol,  who 
let  me  into  the  secret  that  it  was  Granada  that  lay  before  me, 
and  that  I  was  actually  under  the  walls  of  the  Alhambra,  the 
fortress  of  the  redoubted  Governor  Manco,  the  terror  of  all 
enchanted  Moslems.  When  I  heard  this,  I  determined  at 
once  to  seek  your  excellency,  to  inform  you  of  all  that  I  had 
seen,  and  to  warn  you  of  the  perils  that  surround  and  under 
mine  you,  that  you  may  take  measures  in  time  to  guard  your 

1  strap  of  leather  passing  under  a  horse's  tail,  to  prevent  the  saddle  from  slipping. 


GOVERNOR   MANGO   AND  THE   SOLDIER.  93 

fortress,  aiid  the  kingdom  itself,  from  this  intestine  army  that 
lurks  in  the  very  bowels  of  the  land." 

"  And  prithee,  friend,  you  who  are  a  veteran  campaigner, 
and  have  seen  so  much  service,"  said  the  governor,  "how 
would  you  advise  me  to  proceed,  in  order  to  prevent  this 
evil?" 

"It  is  not  for  a  humble  private  of  the  ranks,"  said  the 
soldier,  modestly,  "to  pretend  to  instruct  a  commander  of 
your  excellency's  sagacity,  but  it  appears  to  me  that  your 
excellency  might  cause  all  the  caves  and  entrances  into  the 
mountains  to  be  walled  up  with  solid  mason  work,  so  that 
Boabdil  and  his  army  might  be  completely  corked  up  in  their 
subterranean  habitation.  If  the  good  father,  too,"  added  the 
soldier,  reverently  bowing  to  the  friar,  and  devoutly  crossing 
himself,  "  would  consecrate  the  barricadoes  with  his  blessing, 
and  put  up  a  few  crosses,  and  relics  and  images  of  saints,  I 
think  they  might  withstand  all  the  power  of  infidel  enchant 
ments.  ' ' 

"  They  doubtless  would  be  of  great  avail,"  said  the  friar. 

The  governor  now  placed  his  arm  akimbo,  with  his  hand 
resting  on  the  hilt  of  his  Toledo,  fixed  his  eye  upon  the  sol 
dier,  and  gently  wagging  his  head  from  one  side  to  the  other, 
"So,  friend,"  said  he,  "then  you  really  suppose  I  am  to  be 
gulled  with  this  cock-and-bull  story  about  enchanted  moun 
tains  and  enchanted  Moors?  Hark  ye,  culprit!  Not  another 
word.  An  old  soldier  you  may  be,  but  you'll  find  you  have 
an  older  soldier  to  deal  with,  and  one  not  easily  outgeneralled. 
Ho!  guards  there!  Put  this  fellow  in  irons. " 

The  demure  handmaid  would  have  put  in  a  word  in  favor 
of  the  prisoner,  but  the  governor  silenced  her  with  a  look. 

As  they  were  pinioning  the  soldier,  one  of  the  guards  felt 
something  of  bulk  in  his  pocket,  and  drawing  it  forth,  found 
a  long  leathern  purse  that  appeared  to  be  well  filled.  Holding 
it  by  one  corner,  he  turned  out  the  contents  upon  the  table 
before  the  governor,  and  never  did  freebooter's  bag  make  more 


94  GOVERNOR  MANGO   AND  THE   SOLDIER. 

gorgeous  delivery.  Out  tumbled  rings  and  jewels,  and  rosaries 
of  pearls,  and  sparkling  diamond  crosses,  and  a  profusion  of 
ancient  golden  coin,  some  of  which  fell  jingling  to  the  floor, 
and  rolled  away  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  chamber. 

For  a  time  the  functions  of  justice  were  suspended ;  there 
was  a  universal  scramble  after  the  glittering  fugitives.  The 
governor  alone,  who  was  imbued  with  true  Spanish  pride, 
maintained  his  stately  decorum,1  though  his  eye  betrayed  a 
little  anxiety  until  the  last  coin  and  jewel  was  restored  to  the 
sack. 

The  friar  was  not  so  calm;  his  whole  face  glowed  like  a  fur 
nace,  and  his  eyes  twinkled  and  flashed  at  sight  of  the  rosaries 
and  crosses. 

"  Sacrilegious a  wretch  that  thou  art!  "  exclaimed  he;  "  what 
church  or  sanctuary  hast  thou  been  plundering  of  these  sacred 
relics?" 

"  Neither  one  nor  the  other,  holy  father.  If  they  be  sacri 
legious  spoils,  they  must  have  been  taken,  in  times  long  past, 
by  the  infidel  trooper  I  have  mentioned.  I  was  just  going  to 
tell  his  excellency,  when  he  interrupted  me,  that  on  taking  pos 
session  of  the  trooper's  horse,  I  unhooked  a  leathern  sack  which 
hung  at  the  saddle-bow,  and  which  I  presume  contained  the 
plunder  of  his  campaignings  in  days  of  old,  when  the  Moors 
overran  the  country." 

"  Mighty  well!  At  present  you  will  make  up  your  mind  to 
take  up  your  quarters  in  a  chamber  of  the  Vermilion  Towers, 
which,  though  not  under  a  magic  spell,  will  hold  you  as  safe 
as  any  cave  of  your  enchanted  Moors." 

"  Your  excellency  will  do  as  you  think  proper,"  said  the  pris 
oner,  coolly.  "  I  shall  be  thankful  to  your  excellency  for  any 
accommodation  in  the  fortress.  A  soldier  who  has  been  in 
the  wars,  as  your  excellency  well  knows,  is  not  particular 
about  his  lodgings.  Provided  I  have  a  snug  dungeon,  and 
regular  rations,  I  shall  manage  to  make  myself  comfortable.  I 

1  propriety  of  manner  or  conduct.  2  profane ;  impious. 


GOVERNOR   MANGO   AND   THE   SOLDIER.  95 

would  only  entreat  that  while  your  excellency  is  so  careful 
about  me,  you  would  have  an  eye  to  your  fortress,  and  think 
on  the  hint  I  dropped  about  stopping  up  the  entrances  to  the 
mountain." 

Here  ended  the  scene.  The  prisoner  was  conducted  to  a 
strong  dungeon  in  the  Vermilion  Towers,  the  Arabian  steed 
was  led  to  his  excellency's  stable,  and  the  trooper's  sack  was 
deposited  in  his  excellency's  strong  box.  To  the  latter,  it  is 
true,  the  friar  made  some  demur,  questioning  whether  the 
sacred  relics,  which  were  evidently  sacrilegious  spoils,  should 
not  be  placed  in  custody  of  the  Church;  but  as  the  governor 
was  peremptory  on  the  subject,  and  was  absolute  lord  in  the 
Alhambra,  the  friar  discreetly  dropped  the  discussion,  but 
determined  to  convey  intelligence  of  the  fact  to  the  church 
dignitaries  in  Granada. 

To  explain  these  prompt  and  rigid  measures  on  the  part  of 
old  Governor  Manco,  it  is  proper  to  observe,  that  about  this 
time  the  Alpuxaras  Mountains  in  the  neighborhood  of  Gra 
nada  were  terribly  infested  by  a  gang  of  robbers  under  the 
command  of  a  daring  chief  named  Manuel  Borasco,  who  were 
accustomed  to  prowl  about  the  country,  and  even  to  enter  the 
city  in  various  disguises,  to  gain  intelligence  of  the  depart 
ure  of  convoys  of  merchandise,  or  travellers  with  well-lined 
purses,  whom  they  took  care  to  waylay  in  distant  and  solitary 
passes  of  the  road.  These  repeated  and  daring  outrages  had 
awakened  the  attention  of  government,  and  the  commanders 
of  the  various  posts  had  received  instructions  to  be  on  the  alert, 
and  to  take  up  all  suspicious  stragglers.  Governor  Manco 
was  particularly  zealous  in  consequence  of  the  various  stigmas 
that  had  been  cast  upon  his  fortress,  and  he  now  doubted  not 
lie  had  entrapped  some  formidable  desperado  of  this  gang. 

In  the  mean  time  the  story  took  wind,  and  became  the  talk, 
not  merely  of  the  fortress,  but  of  the  whole  city  of  Granada. 
It  was  said  that  the  noted  robber  Manuel  Borasco,  the  terror 
of  the  Alpuxaras,  had  fallen  into  the  clutches  of  old  Gov- 


96  GOVERNOR   MANGO   AND  THE   SOLDIER. 

ernor  Mauco,  and  been  cooped  up  by  him  in  a  dungeon  of  the 
Vermilion  Towers;  and  every  one  who  had  been  robbed  by  him 
flocked  to  recognize  the  marauder.  The  Vermilion  Towers,  as 
is  well  known,  stand  apart  from  the  Alhambra,  on  a  sister 
hill,  separated  from  the  main  fortress  by  the  ravine  down 
which  passes  the  main  avenue.  There  were  no  outer  walls, 
but  a  sentinel  patrolled  before  the  tower.  The  window  of  the 
chamber  in  which  the  soldier  was  confined  was  strongly  grated, 
and  looked  upon  a  small  esplanade.  Here  the  good  folks  of 
Granada  repaired  to  gaze  at  him,  as  they  would  at  a  laughing 
hyena,  grinning  through  the  cage  of  a  menagerie.  Xobody, 
however,  recognized  him  for  Manuel  Borasco,  for  that  terrible 
robber  was  noted  for  a  ferocious  physiognomy,1  and  had  by 
no  means  the  good-humored  squint  of  the  prisoner.  Visitors 
came  not  merely  from  the  city,  but  from  all  parts  of  the 
country;  but  nobody  knew  him,  and  there  began  to  be  doubts 
in  the  minds  of  the  common  people  whether  there  might  not 
be  some  truth  in  his  story.  That  Boabdil  and  his  army  were 
shut  up  in  the  mountain,  was  an  old  tradition  which  many 
of  the  ancient  inhabitants  had  heard  from  their  fathers. 
Numbers  went  up  to  the  mountain  of  the  sun  in  search  of  the 
cave  mentioned  by  the  soldier;  and  saw  and  peeped  into  the 
deep  dark  pit,  descending,  no  one  knows  how  far,  into  the 
mountain,  and  which  remains  there  to  this  day,  the  fabled 
entrance  to  the  subterranean  abode  of  Boabdil. 

By  degrees  the  soldier  became  popular  with  the  common 
people.  A  freebooter  of  the  mountains  is  by  no  means  the 
opprobrious  character  in  Spain  that  a  robber  is  in  any  other 
country;  on  the  contrary,  he  is  a  kind  of  chivalrous  personage 
in  the  eyes  of  the  lower  classes.  There  is  always  a  disposi 
tion,  also,  to  cavil  2  at  the  conduct  of  those  in  command,  and 
many  began  to  murmur  at  the  high-handed  measures  of  old 
Governor  Manco,  and  to  look  upon  the  prisoner  in  the  light 
of  a  martyr. 

1  face,  or  countenance.  2  offer  frivolous  objections. 


GOVERNOR   MANGO  AND  THE  SOLDIER.  97 

The  soldier,  moreover,  was  a  merry,  waggish  fellow,  that  had 
a  joke  for  every  one  who  came  near  his  window,  and  a  soft 
speech  for  every  female.  Hu  had  procured  an  old  guitar  also, 
and  would  sit  by  his  window  and  sing  ballads  and  love-ditties, 
to  the  delight  of  the  women  of  the  neighborhood,  who  would 
assemble  on  the  esplanade  in  the  evening,  and  dance  boleros  to 
his  music.  Having  trimmed  off  his  rough  beard,  his  sun 
burnt  face  found  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  fair,  and  the  demure 
handmaid  of  the  governor  declared  that  his  squint  was  per 
fectly  irresistible.  This  kind-hearted  damsel  had  from  the  first 
evinced  a  deep  sympathy  in  his  fortunes,  and  having  in  vain 
tried  to  mollify  the  governor,  had  set  to  work  privately  to 
mitigate  the  rigor  of  his  dispensations.  Every  day  she  brought 
the  prisoner  some  crumbs  of  comfort  which  had  fallen  from  the 
governor's  table,  or  been  abstracted  from  his  larder,  together 
with,  now  and  then,  a  consoling  bottle  of  choice,  rich  Malaga. 

While  this  petty  treason  was  going  on  in  the  very  centre  of 
the  old  governor's  citadel,  a  storm  of  open  war  was  brewing 
up  among  his  external  foes.  The  circumstance  of  a  bag  of 
gold  and  jewels  having  been  found  upon  the  person  of  the 
supposed  robber,  had  been  reported,  with  many  exaggera 
tions,  in  Granada.  A  question  of  territorial  jurisdiction  was 
immediately  started  by  the  governor's  inveterate  rival,  the 
captain-general.  He  insisted  that  the  prisoner  had  been  cap 
tured  without  the  precincts  of  the  Alhambra,  and  within  the 
rules  of  his  authority.  He  demanded  his  body,  therefore,  and 
the  spolia  opima l  taken  with  him.  Due  information  having 
been  carried,  likewise,  by  the  friar  to  the  grand  inquisitor,  of 
the  crosses  and  rosaries  and  other  relics  contained  in  the  bag, 
he  claimed  the  culprit  as  having  been  guilty  of  sacrilege,  and 
insisted  that  his  plunder  was  due  to  the  Church,  and  his  body 
to  the  next  auto  da  fe.2  The  feuds  ran  high;  the  governor 

1  rich  spoils.  who  had  been  tried  before  the  courts  of  the 

a(aw'to  dah-fS'),  the  public  declaration     Spanish  Inquisition, 
of  the  judgment  passed  on  accused  persons 


98  GOVERNOR  MANCO  AND  THE  SOLDIER. 

was  furious,,  and  swore,  rather  than  surrender  his  captive,  he 
would  hang  him  up  within  the  Alhambra,  as  a  spy  caught 
within  the  purlieus  1  of  the  fortress. 

The  captain-general  threatened  to  send  a  body  of  soldiers 
to  transfer  the  prisoner  from  the  Vermilion  Towers  to  the  city. 
The  grand  inquisitor  was  equally  bent  upon  despatching  a 
number  of  the  familiars  of  the  Holy  Office.  Word  was 
brought,  late  at  night,  to  the  governor,  of  these  machinations. 
"  Let  them  come,"  said  he;  "  they'll  find  me  beforehand  with 
them.  He  must  rise  bright  and  early  who  would  take  in  an  old 
soldier."  He  accordingly  issued  orders  to  have  the  prisoner 
removed,  at  daybreak,  to  the  donjon  keep  within  the  walls  of 
the  Alhambra.  "And  d'ye  hear,  child?"  said  he  to  his 
demure  handmaid,  "tap  at  my  door,  and  wake  me  before 
cock-crowing,  that  I  may  see  to  the  matter  myself." 

The  day  dawned,  the  cock  crowed,  but  nobody  tapped  at 
the  door  of  the  governor.  The  sun  rose  high  above  the 
mountain  tops,  and  glittered  in  at  his  casement,  ere  the  gov 
ernor  was  awakened  from  his  morning  dreams  by  his  veteran 
corporal,  who  stood  before  him  with  terror  stamped  upon  his 
iron  visage. 

"  He's  off!  he's  gone ! "  cried  the  corporal,  gasping  for  breath. 

"  Who's  off— who's  gone  ?  " 

"The  soldier — the  robber — the  devil,  for  aught  I  know. 
His  dungeon  is  empty,  but  the  door  locked.  No  one  knows 
how  he  has  escaped  out  of  it." 

"Who  saw  him  last?" 

"  Your  handmaid;  she  brought  him  his  supper." 

"  Let  her  be  called  instantly." 

Here  was  new  matter  of  confusion.  The  chamber  of  the 
demure  damsel  was  likewise  empty,  her  bed  had  not  been  slept 
in:  she  had  doubtless  gone  off  with  the  culprit,  as  she  had 
appeared,  for  some  days  past,  to  have  frequent  conversations 
with  him. 

1  the  outer  portion  ;  environs. 


GOVERNOR   MANGO   AND   THE   SOLDIER.  99 

This  was  wounding  the  old  governor  in  a  tender  part,  but 
lie  had  scarce  time  to  wince  at  it,  when  new  misfortunes  broke 
upon  his  view.  On  going  into  his  cabinet  he  found  his  strong 
box  open,  the  leather  purse  of  the  trooper  abstracted,  and  with 
it,  a  couple  of  corpulent1  bags  of  doubloons.2 

But  how,  and  which  way  had  the  fugitives  escaped  ?  An 
old  peasant  who  lived  in  a  cottage  by  the  roadside,  leading  up 
into  the  Sierra,  declared  that  he  had  heard  the  tramp  of  a  power 
ful  steed  just  before  daybreak,  passing  up  into  the  mountains. 
He  had  looked  out  at  his  casement,  and  could  just  distinguish 
a  horseman,  with  a  female  seated  before  him. 

"  Search  the  stables!  "  cried  Governor  Manco.  The  stables 
were  searched ;  all  the  horses  were  in  their  stalls,  excepting  the 
Arabian  steed.  'In  his  place  was  a  stout  cudgel  tied  to  the 
manger,  and  on  it  a  label  bearing  these  words,  "A  gift  to 
Governor  Manco,  from  an  Old  Soldier." 

1  large ;  full.  a  Former  Spanish  gold  coin. 


LEGEND  OF  TWO  DISCREET  STATUES. 

THERE  lived  once,  in  a  waste  apartment  of  the  Alhambra,  a 
merry  little  fellow  named  Lope  Sanchez,  who  worked  in  the 
gardens,  and  was  as  brisk  and  blithe  as  a  grasshopper,  singing 
all  day  long.  He  was  the  life  and  soul  of  the  fortress;  when 
his  work  was  over,  he  would  sit  on  one  of  the  stone  benches  of 
the  esplanade,  strum  his  guitar  and  sing  long  ditties  for  the 
amusement  of  the  old  soldiers  of  the  fortress,  or  would  strike 
up  a  merrier  tune,  and  set  the  girls  dancing. 
*  Like  most  little  men,  Lope  Sanchez  had  a  strapping  buxom 
dame  for  a  wife,  who  could  almost  have  put  him  in  her  pocket ; 
but  he  lacked  the  usual  poor  man's  lot — instead  of  ten  chil 
dren,  he  had  but  one.  This  was  a  little  black-eyed  girl  about 
twelve  years  of  age,  named  Sanchica,  who  was  as  merry  as 
himself,  and  the  delight  of  his  heart.  She  played  about  him 
as  he  worked  in  the  gardens,  danced  to  his  guitar  as  he  sat  in 
the  shade,  and  ran  as  wild  as  a  young  fawn  about  the  groves 
and  alleys  and  ruined  halls  of  the  Alhambra. 

It  was  now  the  eve  of  the  blessed  St.  John,  and  the  holiday- 
loving  gossips  of  the  Alhambra,  men,  women,  and  children, 
went  up  at  night  to  the  mountain  of  the  sun,  which  rises 
above  the  Generalife,  to  keep  their  midsummer  vigil  on  its 
level  summit.  It  was  a  bright  moonlight  night,  and  all  the 
mountains  were  gray  and  silvery,  and  the  city,  with  its  domes 
and  spires,  lay  in  shadows  below,  and  the  Vega  was  like  a 
fairy  land,  with  haunted  streams  gleaming  among  its  dusky 
groves.  On  the  highest  part  of  the  mountain  they  lit  up  a 
bonfire,  according  to  an  old  custom  of  the  country,  handed 
down  from  the  Moors.  The  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding 
country  were  keeping  a  similar  vigil,  and  bonfires,  here  and 
there  in  the  Vega,  and  along  the  folds  of  the  mountains, 
blazed  up  palely  in  the  moonlight. 


LEGEND   OF  TWO   DISCREET  STATUES.  101 

The  evening  was  gayly  passed  in  dancing  to  the  guitar  of 
Lope  Sanchez,  who  was  never  so  joyous  as  when  on  a  holiday 
revel  of  the  kind.  While  the  dance  was  going  on,  the  little 
Sanchica,  with  some  of  her  playmates,  sported  among  the  ruins 
of  an  old  Moorish  fort  that  crowns  the  mountain,  when,  in 
gathering  pebbles  in  the  fosse,  she  found  a  small  hand  curi 
ously  carved  of  jet,  the  fingers  closed,  and  the  thumb  firmly 
clasped  upon  them.  Overjoyed  with  her  good  fortune,  she 
ran  to  her  mother  with  her  prize.  It  immediately  became  a 
subject  of  sage  speculation,1  and  was  eyed  by  some  with  super 
stitious  distrust.  "  Throw  it  away,"  said  one;  "  it's  Moorish; 
depend  upon  it,  there's  mischief  and  witchcraft  in  it."  "  By 
no  means, ' '  said  another ;  * '  you  may  sell  it  for  something  t J 
the  jewellers  of  the  Zacatin."  In  the  midst  of  this  discussion 
an  old  tawny  soldier  drew  near,  who  had  served  in  Africa,  and 
was  as  swarthy  as  a  Moor.  He  examined  the  hand  with  a 
knowing  look.  "I  have  seen  things  of  this  kind,"  said  he, 
"  among  the  Moors  of  Barbary.  It  is  a  great  virtue  to  guard 
against  the  evil  eye,  and  all  kinds  of  spells  and  enchantments. 
I  give  you  joy,  friend  Lope;  this  bodes  good  luck  to  your  child. " 

Upon  hearing  this,  the  wife  of  Lope  Sanchez  tied  the  little 
hand  of  jet  to  a  ribbon,  and  hung  it  round  the  neck  of  her 
daughter. 

The  sight  of  this  talisman  called  up  all  the  favorite  super 
stitions  about  the  Moors.  The  dance  was  neglected,  and  they 
sat  in  groups  on  the  ground,  telling  old  legendary  tales 
handed  down  from  their  ancestors.  Some  of  their  stories 
turned  upon  the  wonders  of  the  very  mountain  upon  which 
•they  were  seated,  which  is  a  famous  hobgoblin  region.  One 
ancient  crone  gave  a  long  account  of  the  subterranean  palace 
in  the  bowels  of  that  mountain  where  Boabdil  and  all  his  Moslem 
court  are  said  to  remain  enchanted.  "  Among  yonder  ruins," 
said  she,  pointing  to  some  crumbling  walls  and  mounds  of  earth 
on  a  distant  part  of  the  mountain,  "  there  is  a  deep  black  pit 

1  conjecture  ;  mere  theory. 


102  LEGEND   OF   TWO   DISCREET   STATUES. 

that  goes  down,  down,  into  the  very  heart  of  the  mountain. 
For  all  the  money  in  Granada  I  would  not  look  down  into  it. 
Once  upon  a  time  a  poor  man  of  the  Alhambra,  who  tended 
goats  upon  this  mountain,  scrambled  down  into  that  pit  after 
a  kid  that  had  fallen  in.  He  came  out  again  all  wild  and 
staring,  and  told  such  things  of  what  he  had  seen  that  every 
one  thought  his  brain  was  turned.  He  raved  for  a  day  or  two 
about  the  hobgoblin  Moors  that  had  pursued  him  in  the  cav 
ern,  and  could  hardly  be  persuaded  to  drive  his  goats  up  again 
to  the  mountain.  He  did  so  at  last,  but,  poor  man,  he  never 
came  down  again.  The  neighbors  found  his  goats  browsing 
about  the  Moorish  ruins,  and  his  hat  and  mantle  lying  near 
the  mouth  of  the  pit,  but  he  was  never  more  heard  of." 

The  little  Sanchica  listened  with  breathless  attention  to  this 
story.  She  was  of  a  curious  nature,  and  felt  immediately  a 
great  hankering  to  peep  into  this  dangerous  pit.  Stealing 
away  from  her  companions,  she  sought  the  distant  ruins,  and 
after  groping  for  some  time  among  them,  came  to  a  small 
hollow,  or  basin,  near  the  brow  of  the  mountain,  where  it 
swept  steeply  down  into  the  valley  of  the  Darro.  In  the 
centre  of  this  basin  yawned  the  mouth  of  the  pit.  Sanchica 
ventured  to  the  verge,  and  peeped  in.  All  was  as  black  as 
pitch,  and  gave  an  idea  of  immeasurable  depth.  Her  blood 
ran  cold;  she  drew  back,  then  peeped  in  again,  then  would 
have  run  away,  then  took  another  peep — the  very  horror  of 
the  thing  was  delightful  to  her.  At  length  she  rolled  a  large 
stone,  and  pushed  it  over  the  brink.  For  some  time  it  fell  in 
silence;  then  struck  some  rocky  projection  with  a  violent 
crash;  then  rebounded  from  side  to  side,  rumbling  and  turn-* 
bling,  with  a  noise  like  thunder;  then  made  a  final  splash  into 
water,  far,  far  below;  and  all  was  again  silent. 

The  silence,  however,  did  not  long  continue.  It  seemed  as 
if  something  had  been  awakened  within  this  dreary  abyss.' 
A  murmuring  sound  gradually  rose  out  of  the  pit,  like  the 

1  a  very  deep  place  (literally,  bottomless). 


LEGEND   OF  TWO   DISCKEET   STATUES.  103 

hum  and  buzz  of  a  beehive.  It  grew  louder  and  louder;  there 
was  the  confusion  of  voices  as  of  a  distant  multitude,  together 
with  the  faint  din  of  arms,  clash  of  cymbals,  and  clangor  of 
trumpets,  as  if  some  army  were  marshalling  for  battle  in  the 
very  bowels  of  the  mountain. 

The  child  drew  off  with  silent  awe,  and  hastened  back  to 
the  place  where  she  had  left  her  parents  and  their  compan 
ions.  All  were  gone.  The  bonfire  was  expiring,  and  its  last 
wreath  of  smoke  curling  up  in  the  moonshine.  The  distant 
fires  that  had  blazed  along  the  mountains  and  in  the  Vega 
were  all  extinguished,  and  every  thing  seemed  to  have  sunk  to 
repose.  Sanchica  called  her  parents  and  some  of  her  com 
panions  by  name,  but  received  no  reply.  She  ran  down  the 
side  of  the  mountain,  and  by  the  gardens  of  the  Generalife, 
until  she  arrived  in  the  alley  of  trees  leading  to  the  Alham- 
bra,  when  she  seated  herself  on  a  bench  of  a  woody  recess  to 
recover  breath.  The  bell  from  the  watch-tower  of  the  Alham- 
bra  tolled  midnight.  There  was  a  deep  tranquillity,  as  if  all 
nature  slept,  excepting  the  low  tinkling  sound  of  an  unseen 
stream  that  ran  under  the  covert  of  the  bushes.  The  breath 
ing  sweetness  of  the  atmosphere  was  lulling  her  to  sleep, 
when  her  eye  was  caught  by  something  glittering  at  a  distance, 
and  to  her  surprise  she  beheld  a  long  cavalcade  of  Moorish 
warriors  pouring  down  the  mountain  side  and  along  the  leafy 
avenues.  Some  were  armed  with  lances  and  shields;  others 
with  cimeters  and  battle-axes,  and  with  polished  cuirasses  that 
flashed  in  the  moonbeams.  Their  horses  pranced  proudly  and 
champed  upon  their  bits,  but  their  tramp  caused  no  more  sound 
than  if  they  had  been  shod  with  felt,  and  the  riders  were  all 
as  pale  as  death.  Among  them  rode  a  beautiful  lady,  with  a 
crowned  head  and  long  golden  locks  entwined  with  pearls. 
The  housings  of  her  palfrey  were  of  crimson  velvet  embroid 
ered  with  gold,  and  swept  the  earth;  but  she  rode  all  discon 
solate,1  with  eyes  ever  fixed  upon  the  ground. 


104  LEGEND   OF   TWO   DISCREET  STATUES. 

Then  succeeded  a  train  of  courtiers  magnificently  arrayed  in 
robes  and  turbans  of  divers  colors,  and  amidst  them,  on  a 
cream-colored  charger,  rode  King  Boabdil  el  Chico,  in  a  royal 
mantle  covered  with  jewels,  and  a  crown  sparkling  with  dia 
monds.  The  little  Sanchica  knew  him  by  his  yellow  beard, 
and  his  resemblance  to  his  portrait,  which  she  had  often  seen 
in  the  picture  gallery  of  the  Generalife.  She  gazed  in  wonder 
and  admiration  at  this  royal  pageant,  as  it  passed  glistening 
among  the  trees;  but  though  she  knew  these  monarchs  and 
courtiers  and  warriors,  so  pale  and  silent,  were  out  of  the 
common  course  of  nature,  and  things  of  magic  and  enchant 
ment,  yet  she  looked  on  with  a  bold  heart,  such  courage  did 
she  derive  from  the  mystic  talisman  of  the  hand  which  was 
suspended  about  her  neck. 

The  cavalcade  having  passed  by,  she  rose  and  followed.  It 
continued  on  to  the  great  Gate  of  Justice,  which  stood  wide 
open ;  the  old  invalid  sentinels  on  duty  lay  on  the  stone  benches 
of  the  barbican,  buried  in  profound  and  apparently  charmed 
sleep,  and  the  phantom  pageant  swept  noiselessly  by  them, 
with  flaunting  banner  and  triumphant  state.  Sanchica  would 
have  followed,  but  to  her  surprise  she  beheld  an  opening  in 
the  earth,  within  the  barbican,  leading  down  beneath  the 
foundations  of  the  tower.  She  entered  for  a  little  distance, 
and  was  encouraged  to  proceed,  by  finding  steps  rudely  hewn  in 
the  rock,  and  a  vaulted  passage  here  and  there  lit  up  by  a 
silver  lamp,  which,  while  it  gave  light,  diffused  likewise  a 
grateful  fragrance.  Venturing  on,  she  came  at  last  to  a  great 
hall,  wrought  out  of  the  heart  of  the  mountain,  magnificently 
furnished  in  the  Moorish  style,  and  lighted  up  by  silver  and 
crystal  lamps.  Here,  on  an  ottoman,  sat  an  old  man  in  Moor 
ish  dress,  with  a  long  white  beard,  nodding  and  dozing,  with 
a  staff  in  his  hand,  which  seemed  ever  to  be  slipping  from  his 
grasp;  while  at  a  little  distance  sat  a  beautiful  lady,  in  ancient 
Spanish  dress,  with  a  coronet  all  sparkling  with  diamonds, 
and  her  hair  entwined  with  pearls,  who  was  softly  playing  on 


LEGEND   OF  TWO   DISCREET  STATUES.  105 

a  silver  lyre.  The  little  Sanchica  now  recollected  a  story  she 
had  heard  among  the  old  people  of  the  Alhambra,  concerning 
a  Gothic  princess  confined  in  the  centre  of  the  mountain  by 
an  old  Arabian  magician,  whom  she  kept  bound  up  in  magic 
sleep  by  the  power  of  music. 

The  lady  paused  with  surprise  at  seeing  a  mortal  in  that 
enchanted  hall.  "  Is  it  the  eve  of  the  blessed  St.  John?" 
said  she. 

"It  is,"  replied  Sanchica. 

"  Then  for  one  night  the  magic  charm  is  suspended.  Come 
hither,  child,  and  fear  not.  I  am  a  Christian  like  thyself, 
though  bound  here  by  enchantment.  Touch  my  fetters  with 
the  talisman  that  hangs  about  thy  neck,  and  for  this  night  I 
shall  be  free." 

So  saying,  she  opened  her  robes,  and  displayed  a  broad 
golden  band  round  her  waist,  and  a  golden  chain  that  fas 
tened  her  to  the  ground.  The  child  hesitated  not  to  apply 
the  little  hand  of  jet  to  the  golden  band,  and  immediately  the 
chain  fell  to  the  earth.  At  the  sound  the  old  man  woke, 
and  began  to  rub  his  eyes;  but  the  lady  ran  her  fingers  over 
the  chords  of  the  lyre,  and  again  he  fell  into  a  slumber,  and 
began  to  nod,  and  his  staff  to  falter  in  his  hand.  "Now," 
said  the  lady,  "touch  his  staff  with  the  talismanic  hand  of 
jet."  The  child  did  so,  and  it  fell  from  his  grasp,  and  he 
sank  in  a  deep  sleep  on  the  ottoman.  The  lady  gently  laid 
the  silver  lyre  on  the  ottoman,  leaning  it  against  the  head  of 
the  sleeping  magician;  then  touching  the  chords  until  they 
vibrated  in  his  ear — "  0  potent  spirit  of  harmony,"  said  she, 
"continue  thus  to  hold  his  senses  in  thraldom  till  the  return 
of  day.  Now  follow  me,  my  child,"  continued  she,  "and 
thou  shalt  behold  the  Alhambra  as  it  was  in  the  days  of  its 
glory,  for  thou  hast  a  magic  talisman  that  reveals  all  enchant 
ments."  Sanchica  followed  the  lady  in  silence.  They  passed 
up  through  the  entrance  of  the  cavern  into  the  barbican  of  the 
Gate  of  Justice,  and  thence  to  the  esplanade  within  the  fortress. 


106  LEGEND    OF   TWO   DISCREET   STATUES. 

This  was  all  filled  with  Moorish  soldiery,  horse  and  foot, 
marshalled  in  squadrons,  with  banners  displayed.  There  were 
royal  guards  also  at  the  portal,  and  rows  of  African  blacks 
with  drawn  cimeters.  No  one  spoke  a  word,  and  Sanchica 
passed  on  fearlessly  after  her  conductor.  Her  astonishment 
increased  on  entering  the  royal  palace,  in  which  she  had  been 
reared.  The  broad  moonshine  lit  up  all  the  halls  and  courts 
and  gardens  almost  as  brightly  as  if  it  were  day,  but  revealed 
a  far  different  scene  from  that  to  which  she  was  accustomed. 
The  walls  of  the  apartments  were  no  longer  stained  and  rent 
by  time.  Instead  of  cobwebs,  they  were  now  hung  with  rich 
silks  of  Damascus,1  and  the  gildings  and  arabesque  paintings 
were  restored  to  their  original  brilliancy  and  freshness.  The 
halls,  no  longer  naked  and  unfurnished,  were  set  out  with 
divans  and  ottomans  of  the  rarest  stuffs,  embroidered  with 
pearls  and  studded  with  precious  gems,  and  all  the  fountains 
in  the  courts  and  gardens  were  playing. 

The  kitchens  were  again  in  full  operation ;  cooks  were  busy 
preparing  shadowy  dishes,  and  roasting  and  boiling  the  phan 
toms  of  pullets  and  partridges;  servants  were  hurrying  to 
and  fro  with  silver  dishes  heaped  up  with  dainties,  and 
arranging  a  delicious  banquet.  The  Court  of  Lions  was 
thronged  with  guards  and  courtiers  and  alfaquis,  as  in  the 
old  times  of  the  Moors;  and  at  the  upper  end,  in  the  Saloon* 
of  Judgment,  sat  Boabdil  on  his  throne,  surrounded  by  his 
court,  and  swaying  a  shadowy  sceptre  for  the  night.  Not 
withstanding  all  this  throng  and  seeming  bustle,  not  a  voice  nor 
a  footstep  was  to  be  heard;  nothing  interrupted  the  midnight 
silence  but  the  splashing  of  the  fountains.  The  little  San 
chica  followed  her  conductress  in  mute  amazement  about  the 
palace,  until  they  came  to  a  portal  opening  to  the  vaulted 
passages  beneath  the  great  Tower  of  Comares.  On  each  side 
of  the  portal  sat  the  figure  of  a  nymph,  wrought  out  of  ala 
baster.  Their  heads  were  turned  aside,  and  their  regards  fixed 

*  celebrated  city  of  Asiatic  Turkey. 


LEGEND   OF  TWO   DISCREET  STATUES.  107 

upon  the  same  spot  within  the  vault.  The  enchanted  lady 
paused,  and  beckoned  the  child  to  her.  "  Here,"  said  she,  "  is 
a  great  secret,  which  I  will  reveal  to  thee  in  reward  for  thy 
faith  and  courage.  These  discreet  statues  watch  over  a  treas 
ure  hidden  in  old  times  by  a  Moorish  king.  Tell  thy  father  to 
search  the  spot  on  which  their  eyes  are  fixed,  and  he  will  find 
what  will  make  him  richer  than  any  man  in  Granada.  Thy 
innocent  hands,  alone,  however,  gifted  as  thou  art  also  with 
the  talisman,  can  remote  the  treasure.  Bid  thy  father  use 
it  discreetly,  and  devote  a  part  of  it  to  the  performance  of 
daily  masses  for  my  deliverance  from  this  unholy  enchant 
ment."  k 

When  the  lady  had  spoken  these  words,  she  led  the  child 
onward  to  the  little  Garden  of  Lindaraxa,  which  is  hard  by 
the  vault  of  the  statues.  The  moon  trembled  upon  the 
waters  of  the  solitary  fountain  in  the  centre  of  the  garden, 
and  shed  a  tender  light  upon  the  orange  and  citron  trees. 
The  beautiful  lady  plucked  a  branch  of  myrtle  and  wreathed 
it  round  the  head  of  the  child.  "  Let  this  be  a  memento,"  ] 
said  she,  "of  what  I  have  revealed  to  thee,  and  a  testimonial 
of  its  truth.  My  hour  is  come;  I  must  return  to  the 
enchanted  hall;  follow  me  not,  lest  evil  befall  thee.  Farewell. 
Remember  what  I  have  said,  and  have  masses  performed  for 
my  deliverance."  So  saying,  the  lady  entered  a  dark  passage 
leading  beneath  the  Tower  of  Comares,  and  was  no  longer  seen. 

The  faint  crowing  of  a  cock  was  now  heard  from  the  cot 
tages  below  the  Alhambra,  in  the  valley  of  the  Darro,  and  a 
pale  streak  of  light  began  to  appear  above  the  eastern  moun 
tains.  A  slight  wind  arose;  there  was  the  sound  like  the  rus 
tling  of  dry  leaves  through  the  courts  and  corridors,  and  door 
after  door  shut  to  with  a  jarring  sound. 

Sanchica  returned  to  the  scenes  she  had  so  lately  beheld 
thronged  with  the  shadowy  multitude,  but  Boabdil  and  his 
phantom  court  were  gone.  The  moon  shone  into  empty  halls 

1  reminder. 


108  LEGEND   OF   TWO   DISCEEET   STATUES. 

and  galleries,  stripped  of  their  transient  splendor,,  stained 
and  dilapidated  by  time,  and  hung  with  cobwebs.  The  bat 
flitted  about  in  the  uncertain  light,  and  the  frog  croaked  from 
the  fish-pond. 

Sanchica  now  made  the  best  of  her  way  to  a  remote  stair 
case  that  led  up  to  the  humble  apartment  occupied  by  her 
family.  The  door,  as  usual,  was  open,  for  Lope  Sanchez  was 
too  poor  to  need  bolt  or  bar;  she  crept  quietly  to  her  pallet, 
and,  putting  the  myrtle  wreath  beneath  her  pillow,  soon  fell 
asleep. 

In  the  morning  she  related  all  that  had  befallen  her  to  her 
father.  Lope  Sanchez,  however,  treated  the  whole  as  a  mere 
dream,  and  laughed  at  the  child  for  her  credulity.  He  went 
forth  to  his  customary  labors  in  the  garden,  but  had  not  been 
there  long  when  his  little  daughter  came  running  to  him 
almost  breathless.  "Father!  father!"  cried  she,  "behold 
the  myrtle  wreath  which  the  Moorish  lady  bound  round  my 
head." 

Lope  Sanchez  gazed  with  astonishment,  for  the  stalk  of  the 
myrtle  was  of  pure  gold,  and  every  leaf  was  a  sparkling  emer 
ald!  Being  not  much  accustomed  to  precious  stones,  he  was 
ignorant  of  the  real  value  of  the  wreath,  but  he  saw  enough  to 
convince  him  that  it  was  something  more  substantial  than  the 
stuff  of  which  dreams  are  generally  made,  and  that  at  any  rate 
the  child  had  dreamt  to  some  purpose.  His  first  care  was  to 
enjoin  the  most  absolute  secrecy  upon  his  daughter;  in  this 
respect,  however,  he  was  secure,  for  she  had  discretion  far 
beyond  her  years  or  sex.  He  then  repaired  to  the  vault,  where 
stood  the  statues  of  the  two  alabaster  nymphs.  He  remarked 
that  their  heads  were  turned  from  the  portal,  and  that  the 
regards  of  each  were  fixed  upon  the  same  point  in  the  interior 
of  the  building.  Lope  Sanchez  could  not  but  admire  this  most 
discreet  contrivance  for  guarding  a  secret.  He  drew  a  line 
from  the  eyes  of  the  statues  to  the  point  of  regard,  made  a 
private  mark  on  the  wall,  aud  then  retired. 


LEGEND   OF  TWO   DISCREET  STATUES.  109 

All  day,  however,,  the  mind  of  Lope  Sanchez  was  distracted 
with  a  thousand  cares.  He  could  not  help  hovering  within 
distant  view  of  the  two  statues,  and  became  nervous  from  the 
dread  that  the  golden  secret  might  be  discovered.  Every 
footstep  that  approached  the  place  made  him  tremble.  He 
would  have  given  any  thing  could  he  but  have  turned  the 
heads  of  the  statues,  forgetting  that  they  looked  precisely  in 
the  same  direction  for  some  hundreds  of  years,  without  any 
person  being  the  wiser. 

"  A  plague  upon  them !"  he  would  say  to  himself.  "  They'll 
betray  all ;  did  ever  mortal  hear  of  such  a  mode  of  guarding 
a  secret  ?  "  Then,  on  hearing  any  one  advance,  he  would  steal 
off,  as  though  his  very  lurking  near  the  place  would  awaken 
suspicion.  Then  he  would  return  cautiously,  and  peep  from 
a  distance  to  see  if  every  thing  was  secure;  but  the  sight  of  the 
statues  would  again  call  forth  his  indignation.  "  Ay,  there 
they  stand,"  would  he  say,  "always  looking,  and  looking, 
and  looking,  just  where  they  should  not.  Confound  them! 
They  are  just  like  all  their  sex.  If  they  have  not  tongues  to 
tattle  with,  they'll  be  sure  to  do  it  with  their  eyes." 

At  length,  to  his  relief,  the  long  anxious  day  drew  to  a 
close.  The  sound  of  footsteps  was  no  longer  heard  in  the 
echoing  halls  of  the  Alhambra.  The  last  stranger  passed  the 
threshold,  the  great  portal  was  barred  and  bolted,  and  the  bat 
and  the  frog  and  the  hooting  owl  gradually  resumed  their 
nightly  vocations  in  the  deserted  palace. 

Lope  Sanchez  waited,  however,  until  the  night  was  far 
advanced  before  he  ventured  with  his  little  daughter  to  the 
hall  of  the  two  nymphs.  He  found  them  looking  as  know 
ingly  and  mysteriously  as  ever  at  the  secret  place  of  deposit. 
"  By  your  leaves,  gentle  ladies,"  thought  Lope  Sanchez,  as  he 
passed  between  them,  "  I  will  relieve  you  from  this  charge  that 
must  have  set  so  heavy  in  your  minds  for  the  last  two  or  three 
centuries."  He  accordingly  went  to  work  at  the  part  of  the 
wall  which  he  had  marked,  and  in  a  little  while  laid  open  a  con- 


110  LEGEND   OF  TWO   DISCEEET  STATUES. 

cealed  recess,  in  which  stood  two  great  jars  of  porcelain.  He 
attempted  to  draw  them  forth,  but  they  were  immovable,  until 
touched  by  the  innocent  hand  of  his  little  daughter.  With 
her  aid  he  dislodged  them  from  their  niche,  and  found,  to  his 
great  joy,  that  they  were  filled  with  pieces  of  Moorish  gold, 
mingled  with  jewels  and  precious  stones.  Before  daylight  he 
managed  to  convey  them  to  his  chamber,  and  left  the  two 
guardian  statues  with  their  eyes  still  fixed  on  the  vacant  wall. 

Lope  Sanchez  had  thus  on  a  sudden  become  a  rich  man ;  but 
riches,  as  usual,  brought  a  world  of  cares  to  which  he  had 
hitherto  been  a  stranger.  How  was  he  to  convey  away  his 
wealth  with  safety  ?  How  was  he  even  to  enter  upon  the  en 
joyment  of  it  without  awakening  suspicion  ?  Now,  too,  for  the 
first  time  in  his  life  the  dread  of  robbers  entered  into  his  mind. 
He  looked  with  terror  at  the  insecurity  of  his  habitation,  and 
went  to  work  to  barricade  the  doors  and  windows;  yet  after  all 
Ms  precautions  he  could  not  sleep  soundly.  His  usual  gayety 
was  at  an  end;  he  had  no  longer  a  joke  or  a  song  for  his 
neighbors;  and,  in  short,  became  the  most  miserable  animal  in 
the  Alhambra.  He  determined,  therefore,  to  beat  a  secret 
retreat  in  the  night,  and  make  off  to  another  part  of  the 
kingdom. 

Nothing  was  heard  of  Lope  Sanchez  for  a  long  time  after 
his  disappearance  from  the  Alhambra.  Some  years  after 
wards,  one  of  his  old  companions,  an  invalid  soldier,  being 
at  Malaga,  was  knocked  down  and  nearly  run  over  by  a  coach 
and  six.  The  carriage  stopped ;  an  old  gentleman,  magnifi 
cently  dressed,  with  a  bag-wig  and  sword,  stepped  out  to  assist 
the  poor  invalid.  What  was  the  astonishment  of  the  latter  to 
behold  in  this  grand  cavalier  his  old  friend  Lope  Sanchez, 
who  was  actually  celebrating  the  marriage  of  his  daughter 
Sanchica  with  one  of  the  first  grandees  of  the  land. 


LEGEND  OF  DON  MUNIO  SANCHO  DE  HINOJOSA. 

IN  the  cloisters  of  the  ancient  Benedictine  convent  of  San 
Domingo,  at  Silos,  in  Castile,  are  the  mouldering  yet  mag 
nificent  monuments  of  the  once  powerful  and  chivalrous  fam 
ily  of  Hinojosa.  Among  these  reclines  the  marble  figure  of  a 
knight,  in  complete  armor,  with  the  hands  pressed  together, 
as  if  in  prayer.  On  one  side  of  his  tomb  is  sculptured  in 
relief  a  band  of  Christian  cavaliers,  capturing  a  cavalcade  of 
male  and  female  Moors;  on  the  other  side,  the  same  cavaliers 
are  represented  kneeling  before  an  altar.  The  tomb,  like 
most  of  the  neighboring  monuments,  is  almost  in  ruins,  and  the 
sculpture  is  nearly  unintelligible,  excepting  to  the  keen  eye  of 
the  antiquary.1  The  story  connected  with  the  sepulchre,  how 
ever,  is  still  preserved  in  the  old  Spanish  chronicles,  and  is  to 
the  following  purport : 

In  old  times,  several  hundred  years  ago,  there  was  a  noble 
Castilian  cavalier,  named  Don  Munio  Sancho  de  Hinojosa, 
lord  of  a  border  castle,  which  had  stood  the  brunt  of  many  a 
Moorish  foray.  He  had  seventy  horsemen  as  his  household 
troops,  all  of  the  ancient  Castilian  proof — stark  2  warriors, 
hard  riders,  and  men  of  iron ;  with  these  he  scoured  the  Moor 
ish  lands,  and  made  his  name  terrible  throughout  the  borders. 
His  castle  hall  was  covered  with  banners,  cimeters,  and  Mos 
lem  helms,  the  trophies  of  his  prowess.  Don  Munio  was, 
moreover,  a  keen  huntsman,  and  rejoiced  in  hounds  of  all 
kinds,  steeds  for  the  chase,  and  hawks  for  the  towering  sport 
of  falconry.  When  not  engaged  in  warfare,  his  delight  was  to 
beat  up  the  neighboring  forests;  and  scarcely  ever  did  he  ride 

1  lover  and  student  of  ancient  things.  1  strong  ;  rugged. 


112       LEGEND  OF  DON   MUNIO   SANCHO   DE   HiNOJOSA. 

forth  without  hound  and  horn,  a  boar-spear  in  his  hand,  or 
a  hawk  upon  his  fist,  and  an  attendant  train  of  huntsmen. 

His  wife,  Dona  Maria  Palacin,  was  of  a  gentle  and  timid 
nature,  little  fitted  to  be  the  spouse  of  so  hardy  and  adventur 
ous  a  knight;  and  many  a  tear  did  the  poor  lady  shed  when 
he  sallied  forth  upon  his  daring  enterprises,  and  many  a 
prayer  did  she  offer  up  for  his  safety. 

As  this  doughty  cavalier  was  one  day  hunting,  he  stationed 
himself  in  a  thicket,  on  the  borders  of  a  green  glade  of  the 
forest,  and  dispersed  his  followers  to  rouse  the  game  and 
drive  it  toward  his  stand.  He  had  not  been  here  long,  when 
a  cavalcade  of  Moors,  of  both  sexes,  carne  prankling ]  over 
the  forest  lawn.  They  were  unarmed,  and  magnificently 
dressed  in  robes  of  tissue  and  embroidery,  rich  shawls  of 
India,  bracelets  and  anklets  of  gold,  and  jewels  that  sparkled 
in  the  sun. 

At  the  head  of  this  gay  cavalcade  rode  a  youthful  cavalier, 
superior  to  the  rest  in  dignity  and  loftiness  of  demeanor,  and 
in  splendor  of  attire;  beside  him  was  a  damsel  whose  veil, 
blown  aside  by  the  breeze,  displayed  a  face  of  surpassing 
beauty,  and  eyes  cast  down  in  maiden  modesty,  yet  beaming 
with  tenderness  and  joy. 

Don  Munio  thanked  his  stars  for  sending  him  such  a  prize, 
and  exulted  at  the  thought  of  bearing  home  to  his  wife  the 
glittering  spoils  of  these  infidels.  Putting  his  hunting  horn 
to  his  lips,  he  gave  a  blast  that  rung  through  the  forest.  His 
huntsmen  came  running  from  all  quarters,  and  the  astonished 
Moors  were  surrounded  and  made  captives. 

The  beautiful  Moor  wrung  her  hands  in  despair,  and  her 
female  attendants  uttered  the  most  piercing  cries.  The  young 
Moorish  cavalier  alone  retained  self-possession.  He  inquired 
the  name  of  the  Christian  knight  who  commanded  this  troop 
of  horsemen.  When  told  that  it  was  Don  Munio  Sancho  de 
Hinojosa,  his  countenance  lighted  up.  Approaching  that 

1  prancing. 


LEGEND  OF  DON   MUNIO  SANCHO  DE  HINOJOSA.      113 

cavalier,  and  kissing  his  hand,  "  Don  Munio  Sancho,"  said  he, 
"  I  have  heard  of  your  fame  as  a  true  and  valiant  knight, 
terrible  in  arms,  but  schooled  in  the  noble  virtues  of  chivalry. 
Such  do  I  trust  to  find  you.  In  me  you  behold  Abadil,  son  of 
a  Moorish  alcayde.  I  am  on  the  way  to  celebrate  my  nuptials 
with  this  lady.  Chance  has  thrown  us  in  your  power,  but  I 
confide  in  your  magnanimity.  Take  all  our  treasure  and 
jewels;  demand  what  ransom  you  think  proper  for  our  persons, 
but  suffer  us  not  to  be  insulted  nor  dishonored." 

When  the  good  knight  heard  this  appeal,  and  beheld  the 
beauty  of  the  youthful  pair,  his  heart  was  touched  with  ten 
derness  and  courtesy.  "  God  forbid,"  said  he,  "  that  I  should 
disturb  such  happy  nuptials.  My  prisoners,  in  troth,  shall  ye 
be  for  fifteen  days,  and  immured  within  my  castle,  where  I 
claim,  as  conqueror,  the  right  of  celebrating  your  espousals." 

So  saying,  he  despatched  one  of  his  fleetest  horsemen  in 
advance,  to  notify  Dofia  Maria  Palacin  of  the  coming  of  this 
bridal  party;  while  he  and  his  huntsmen  escorted  the  caval 
cade,  not  as  captors,  but  as  a  guard  of  honor.  As  they  drew 
near  to  the  castle,  the  banners  were  hung  out,  and  the  trum 
pets  sounded  from  the  battlements;  and  on  their  nearer 
approach,  the  drawbridge  was  lowered,  and  Dofia  Maria  came 
forth  to  meet  them,  attended  by  her  ladies  and  knights,  her 
pages  and  her  minstrels.  She  took  the  young  bride,  Allifra, 
in  her  arms,  kissed  her  with  the  tenderness  of  a  sister,  and 
conducted  her  into  the  castle.  In  the  mean  time,  Don  Munio 
sent  forth  missives  in  every  direction,  and  had  viands  and 
dainties  of  all  kinds  collected  from  the  country  round;  and 
the  wedding  of  the  Moorish  lovers  was  celebrated  with  all 
possible  state  and  festivity.  For  fifteen  days  the  castle  was 
given  up  to  joy  and  revelry.  There  were  tiltings  and  jousts 
at  the  ring,  and  bull-fights  and  banquets  and  dances  to  the 
sound  of  minstrelsy.  When  the  fifteen  days  were  at  an  end, 
he  made  the  bride  and  bridegroom  magnificent  presents,  and 
conducted  them  and  their  attendants  safely  beyond  the  bor- 


114       LEGEND   OF   DON   MUNIO   SANCHO   DE   HINOJOSA. 

ders.  Such,  in  old  times,,  were  the  courtesy  and  generosity  of 
a  Spanish  cavalier. 

Several  years  after  this  event,  the  king  of  Castile  summoned 
his  nobles  to  assist  him  in  a  campaign  against  the  Moors.  Don 
Munio  Sancho  was  among  the  first  to  answer  to  the  call,  with 
seventy  horsemen,  all  stanch  and  well-tried  warriors.  His 
wife,  Dona  Maria,  hung  about  his  neck.  "  Alas!  my  lord!  " 
exclaimed  she,  "how  often  wilt  thou  tempt  thy  fate,  and 
when  will  thy  thirst  for  glorj  be  appeased  ?  " 

"One  battle  more,"  replied  Don  Munio,  "one  battle  more 
for  the  honor  of  Castile;  and  I  here  make  a  vow,  that  when 
this  is  over,  I  will  lay  by  my  sword,  and  repair  with  my  cavaliers 
in  pilgrimage  to  the  sepulchre  of  our  Lord  at  Jerusalem." 
The  cavaliers  all  joined  with  him  in  the  vow,  and'  Dona 
Maria  felt  in  some  degree  soothed  in  spirit;  still,  she  saw  with 
a  heavy  heart  the  departure  of  her  husband,  and  watched  his 
banner  with  wistful  eyes,  until  it  disappeared  among  the  trees 
in  the  forest. 

The  king  of  Castile  led  his  army  to  the  Plain  of  Alma- 
nara,  where  they  encountered  the  Moorish  host,  near  to  Ucles. ' 
The  battle  was  long  and  bloody;  the  Christians  repeatedly 
wavered,  and  were  as  often  rallied  by  the  energy  of  their  com 
manders.  Don  Munio  was  covered  with  wounds,  but  refused 
to  leave  the  field.  The  Christians  at  length  gave  way,  and 
the  king  was  hardly  pressed,  and  in  danger  of  being  captured. 

Don  Munio  called  upon  his  cavaliers  to  follow  him  to  the 
rescue.  "  Now  is  the  time,"  cried  he,  "  to  prove  your  loyalty. 
Fall  to,  like  brave  men !  We  fight  for  the  true  faith,  and  if 
we  lose  our  lives  here,  we  gain  a  better  life  hereafter." 

Rushing  with  his  men  between  the  king  and  his  pursuers, 
they  checked  the  latter  in  their  career,  and  gave  time  for  their 
monarch  to  escape;  but  they  fell  victims  to  their  loyalty. 
They  all  fought  to  the  last  gasp.  Don  Munio  was  singled  out 
by  a  powerful  Moorish  knight,  but  having  been  wounded  in 

1  town  about  fifty  miles  southeast  of  Madrid. 


LEGEND  OF   DON   MUNIO   SANCHO   DE   HINOJOSA.      115 

the  right  arm,  he  fought  to  disadvantage,  and  was  slain.  The 
battle  being  over,  the  Moor  paused  to  possess  himself  of  the 
spoils  of  this  redoubtable  Christian  warrior.  When  he  unlaced 
the  helmet,  however,  and  beheld  the  countenance  of  Don 
Munio,  he  gave  a  great  cry,  and  smote  his  breast.  "  Woe  is 
me!  "  cried  he,  "I  have  slain  my  benefactor!  The  flower  of 
knightly  virtue!  The  most  magnanimous 1  of  cavaliers!  " 

While  the  battle  had  been  raging  on  the  Plain  of  Almanara, 
Dofta  Maria  Palacin  remained  in  her  castle,  a  prey  to  the  keenest 
anxiety.  Her  eyes  were  ever  fixed  on  the  road  that  led  from 
the  country  of  the  Moors,  and  often  she  asked  the  watchman 
of  the  tower,  "  What  seest  thou?  " 

One  evening,  at  the  shadowy  hour  of  twilight,  the  warden 
sounded  his  horn.  "I  see,"  cried  he,  "a  numerous  train 
winding  up  the  valley.  There  are  mingled  Moors  and  Chris 
tians.  The  banner  of  my  lord  is  in  the  advance.  Joyful  tid 
ings!"  exclaimed  the  old  seneschal.2  "My  lord  returns  in 
triumph,  and  brings  captives!  "  Then  the  castle  courts  rang 
with  shouts  of  joy,  and  the  standard  was  displayed,  and  the 
trumpets  were  sounded,  and  the  drawbridge  was  lowered,  and 
Dona  Maria  went  forth  with  her  ladies  and  her  knights  and 
her  pages  and  her  minstrels,  to  welcome  her  lord  from  the 
wars.  But  as  the  train  drew  nigh,  she  beheld  a  sumptuous 
bier,  covered  with  black  velvet,  and  on  it  lay  a  warrior,  as  if 
taking  his  repose.  He  lay  in  his  armor,  with  his  helmet  on  his 
head,  and  his  sword  in  his  hand,  as  one  who  had  never  been 
conquered ;  and  around  the  bier  were  the  escutcheons  of  the 
house  of  Hinojosa. 

A  number  of  Moorish  cavaliers  attended  the  bier,  with 
emblems  of  mourning,  and  with  dejected  countenances;  and 
their  leader  cast  himself  at  the  feet  of  Dona  Maria,  and  hid 
his  face  in  his  hands.  She  beheld  in  him  the  gallant  Abadil, 
whom  she  had  once  welcomed  with  his  bride  to  her  castle;  but 

1  great  or  high  minded.  2  steward  who  had  charge  of  the  house. 


116       LEGEND   OF   DON   MUNIO   SANCHO   DE   HINOJOSA. 

who  now  came  with  the  body  of  her  lord,  whom  he  had 
unknowingly  slain  in  battle. 

On  one  of  the  stones  of  a  small  arch,  beside  his  sepulchre, 
is  the  following  simple  inscription:  "  Here  lies  Maria  Palacin, 
wife  of  Munio  Sancho  de  Hinojosa. " 

The  legend  of  Don  Munio  Sancho  does  not  conclude  with  his 
death.  On  the  same  day  on  which  the  battle  took  place  on  the 
Plain  of  Almanara,  a  chaplain  of  the  Holy  Temple  at  Jerusa 
lem,  while  standing  at  the  outer  gate,  beheld  a  train  of  Chris 
tian  cavaliers  advancing,  as  if  in  pilgrimage.  The  chaplain 
was  a  native  of  Spain,  and,  as  the  pilgrims  approached,  he 
knew  the  foremost  to  be  Don  Munio  Sancho  de  Hinojosa,  with 
whom  he  had  been  well  acquainted  in  former  times.  Hasten 
ing  to  the  patriarch/  he  told  him  of  the  honorable  rank  of 
the  pilgrims  at  the  gate.  The  patriarch,  therefore,  went  forth 
with  a  grand  procession  of  priests  and  monks,  and  received 
the  pilgrims  with  all  due  honor.  There  were  seventy  cava 
liers,  beside  their  leader,  all  stark  and  lofty  warriors.  They 
carried  their  helmets  in  their  hands,  and  their  faces  were 
deadly  pale.  They  greeted  no  one,  nor  looked  either  to  the 
right  or  to  the  left,  but  entered  the  chapel,  and,  kneeling 
before  the  sepulchre  of  our  Saviour,  performed  their  orisons 
in  silence.  When  they  had  concluded,  they  rose  as  if  to 
depart,  and  the  patriarch  and  his  attendants  advanced  to  speak 
to  them,  but  they  were  no  more  to  be  seen.  Every  one  marvelled 
what  could  be  the  meaning  of  this  prodigy.2  The  patriarch 
carefully  noted  down  the  day,  and  sent  to  Castile  to  learn  tid 
ings  of  Don  Munio  Sancho  de  Hinojosa.  He  received  for 
reply,  that  on  the  very  day  specified,  that  worthy  knight,  with 
seventy  of  his  followers,  had  been  slain  in  battle.  These, 
therefore,  must  have  been  the  blessed  spirits  of  those  Chris 
tian  warriors,  come  to  fulfil  their  vow  of  pilgrimage  to  the 
Holy  Sepulchre  *  at  Jerusalem.  Such  was  Castilian  faith  in 
the  olden  time,  which  kept  its  word,  even  beyond  the  grave. 

1  high  ecclesiastical  dignitary.  a  marvel;  extraordinary  occurrence. 

3  the  burial  place  of  the  Saviour. 


THE   LEGEND   OF   THE   ENCHANTED   SOLDIER. 

EVERYBODY  has  heard  of  the  Cave  of  St.  Cyprian  at  Sala 
manca/  where  in  old  times  judicial  astronomy,  necromancy,2 
chiromancy/  and  other  dark  and  damnable  arts  were  secretly 
taught  by  an  ancient  sacristan;  4  or,  as  some  will  have  it,  by 
the  devil  himself,  in  that  disguise.  The  cave  has  long  been 
shut  up  and  the  very  site  of  it  forgotten ;  though,  according 
to  tradition,  the  entrance  was  somewhere  about  where  the 
stone  cross  stands  in  the  small  square  of  the  seminary  of  Car- 
vajal;  and  this  tradition  appears  in  some  degree  corroborated 5 
by  the  circumstances  of  the  following  story. 

There  was  at  one  time  a  student  of  Salamanca,  Don  Vicente 
by  name,  of  that  merry  but  mendicant 6  class  who  set  out  on 
the  road  to  learning  without  a  penny  in  pouch  for  the  journey, 
and  who,  during  college  vacations,  beg  from  town  to  town,  and 
village  to  village,  to  raise  funds  to  enable  them  to  pursue 
their  studies  through  the  ensuing  term.  He  was  now  about 
to  set  forth  on  his  wanderings,  and,  being  somewhat  musical, 
slung  on  his  back  a  guitar  with  which  to  amuse  the  villagers, 
and  pay  for  a  meal  or  a  night's  lodgings. 

As  he  passed  by  the  stone  cross  in  the  seminary  square,  he 
pulled  off  his  hat,  and  made  a  short  invocation7  to  St. 
Cyprian,  for  good  luck;  when,  casting  his  eyes  upon  the  earth, 
he  perceived  something  glitter  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  On 
picking  it  up,  it  proved  to  be  a  seal  ring  of  mixed  metal,  in 
which  gold  and  silver  appeared  to  be  blended.  The  seal  bore 

1  a  seat  of  learning,  the  Oxford  of  Spain  ;  *  sexton, 

northwest  from  Madrid,  in  province  of  Leon.  B  confirmed  ;  strengthened. 

'•*  art  of  magic.  8  begging. 

3  palmistry  ;  art  of  telling  fortunes  by  in-  7  prayer, 
specting  the  lines  of  the  hand. 


118  THE   LEGEND   OF   THE   ENCHANTED   SOLDIER. 

as  a  device  two  triangles  crossing  each  other,  so  as  to  form  a 
star.  This  device  is  said  to  be  a  cabalistic  sign,  invented  by 
King  Solomon  the  wise,  and  of  mighty  power  in  all  cases  of 
enchantment;  but  the  honest  student,  being  neither  sage  nor 
conjurer,  knew  nothing  of  the  matter.  He  took  the  ring  as  a 
present  from  St.  Cyprian  in  reward  of  his  prayer,  slipped  it 
on  his  finger,  made  a  bow  to  the  cross,  and  strumming  his 
guitar,  set  off  merrily  on  his  wandering. 

The  life  of  a  mendicant  student  in  Spain  is  not  the  most 
miserable  in  the  world,  especially  if  he  has  any  talent  at  mak 
ing  himself  agreeable.  He  rambles  at  large  from  village  to 
village,  and  city  to  city,  wherever  curiosity  or  caprice  may  con 
duct  him.  The  country  curates,  who,  for  the  most  part,  have 
been  mendicant  students  in  their  time,  give  him  shelter  for 
the  night,  and  a  comfortable  meal,  and  often  enrich  him  with 
several  quartos  or  half-pence  in  the  morning.  As  he  presents 
himself  from  door  to  door  in  the  streets  of  the  cities,  he  meets 
with  no  harsh  rebuff,  no  chilling  contempt,  for  there  is  no 
disgrace  attending  his  mendicity. 1  Many  of  the  most  learned 
men  in  Spain  having  commenced  their  career  in  this  manner; 
but  if,  like  the  student  in  question,  he  is  a  good-looking  varlet 
and  a  merry  companion,  and,  above  all,  if  he  can  play  the 
guitar,  he  is  sure  of  a  hearty  welcome  among  the  peasants,  and 
smiles  and  favors  from  their  wives  and  daughters. 

In  this  way,  then,  did  our  ragged  and  musical  son  of  learn 
ing  make  his  way  over  half  the  kingdom,  with  the  fixed  deter 
mination  to  visit  the  famous  city  of  Granada  before  his  return. 
Sometimes  he  was  gathered  for  the  night  into  the  fold  of  some 
village  pastor;  sometimes  he  was  sheltered  under  the  humble 
but  hospitable  roof  of  the  peasant.  Seated  at  the  cottage  door 
with  his  guitar,  he  delighted  the  simple  folk  with  his  ditties; 
or  striking  up  a  fandango 2  or  bolero,  set  the  brown  country 
lads  and  lasses  dancing  in  the  mellow  twilight.  In  the  morn 
ing  he  departed  with  kind  words  from  host  and  hostess,  and 

i  life  as  a  beggar.  >  kind  of  dance. 


THE   LEGEND   OF  THE   ENCHANTED  SOLDIER.  119 

kind  looks  and,  peradventure,  a  squeeze  of  the  hand  from  the 
daughter. 

At  length  he  arrived  at  the  great  object  of  his  musical  vaga 
bondizing,  the  far-famed  city  of  Granada,  and  hailed  with 
wonder  and  delight  its  Moorish  towers,  its  lovely  Vega,  and  its 
snowy  mountains  glistering  through  a  summer  atmosphere. 
It  is  needless  to  say  with  what  eager  curiosity  he  entered  its 
gates  and  wandered  through  its  streets,  and  gazed  upon  its 
Oriental  monuments.  Every  female  face  peering  through  a 
window  or  beaming  from  a  balcony  was  to  him  a  Zorayda  or  a 
Zelinda,  nor  could  he  meet  a  stately  dame  on  the  Alameda,1 
but  he  was  ready  to  fancy  her  a  Moorish  princess,  and  to 
spread  his  student's  robe  beneath  her  feet. 

His  musical  talent,  his  happy  humor,  his.  youth,  and  his 
good  looks,  won  him  a  universal  welcome  in  spite  of  his  ragged 
robes,  and  for  several  days  he  led  a  gay  life  in  the  old  Moorish 
capital  and  its  environs.  One  of  his  occasional  haunts  was  the 
fountain  of  Avellanos,  in  the  valley  of  the  Darro.  It  is  one 
of  the  popular  resorts  of  Granada,  and  has  been  so  since  the 
days  of  the  Moors;  and  here  the  student  had  an  opportunity 
of  pursuing  his  studies  of  female  beauty,  a  branch  of  study 
to  which  he  was  a  little  prone. 

Here  he  would  take  his  seat  with  his  guitar,  improvise  love- 
ditties  to  admiring  groups,  or  prompt  with  his  music  the  ever 
ready  dance.  He  was  thus  engaged  one  evening,  when  he 
beheld  a  padre  a  of  the  Church  advancing,  at  whose  approach 
every  one  touched  the  hat.  He  was  evidently  a  man  of  con 
sequence;  he  certainly  was  a  mirror  of  good,  if  not  of  holy, 
living;  robust  and  rosy-faced,  and  breathing  at  every  pore, 
with  the  warmth  of  the  weather  and  the  exercise  of  the  walk. 
As  he  passed  along  he  would  every  now  and  then  draw  a  mar- 
avedi  out  of  his  pocket,  and  bestow  it  on  a  beggar,  with  an  air 
of  signal  beneficence.  "Ah,  the  blessed  father!"  would  be 
the  cry.  "  Long  life  to  him,  and  may  he  soon  be  a  bishop!  " 

1  a  shaded  public  walk.  3  father  ;  priest. 


120  THE   LEGEND   OF  THE   ENCHANTED   SOLDIER. 

To  aid  his  steps  in  ascending  the  hill,  he  leaned  gently  now 
and  then  on  the  arm  of  a  handmaid,  evidently  the  pet  lamb 
of  this  kindest  of  pastors.  Ah,  such  a  damsel !  Andalus  from 
head  to  foot — from  the  rose  in  her  hair,  to  the  fairy  shoe  and 
lace-work  stocking;  Andalus  in  every  movement;  in  every 
undulation  '  of  the  body — ripe,  melting  Andalus!  But  then 
so  modest! — so  shy! — ever,  with  downcast  eyes,  listening  to 
the  words  of  the  padre ;  or  if  by  chance  she  let  flash  a  side- 
glance,  it  was  suddenly  checked  and  her  eyes  once  more  cast  to 
the  ground. 

The  good  padre  looked  benignantly  on  the  company  about 
the  fountain,  and  took  his  seat  with  some  emphasis  on  a  stone 
bench,  while  the  handmaid  hastened  to  bring  him  a  glass  of 
sparkling  water.  He  sipped  it  deliberately,  and  with  relish, 
tempering  it  with  one  of  those  spongy  pieces  of  frosted  eggs 
and  sugar  so  dear  to  Spanish  epicures,8  and  on  returning  the 
glass  to  the  hand  of  the  damsel  pinched  her  cheek  with  infi 
nite  loving-kindness. 

"Ah,  the  good  pastor!  "  whispered  the  student  to  himself. 
"  What  a  happiness  would  it  be  to  be  gathered  into  his  fold 
with  such  a  pet  lamb  for  a  companion!  " 

But  no  such  good  fare  was  likely  to  befall  him.  In  vain  he 
essayed  those  powers  of  pleasing  which  he  had  found  so  irre 
sistible  with  country  curates  and  country  lasses.  Xever  had 
he  touched  his  guitar  with  such  skill;  never  had  he  poured 
forth  more  soul-moving  ditties;  but  he  had  no  longer  a  coun 
try  curate  or  country  lass  to  deal  with.  The  worthy  priest 
evidently  did  not  relish  music,  and  the  modest  damsel  never 
raised  her  eyes  from  the  ground.  They  remained  but  a  short 
time  at  the  fountain.  The  good  padre  hastened  their  return  to 
Granada.  The  damsel  gave  the  student  one  shy  glance  in 
retiring,  but  it  plucked  the  heart  out  of  his  bosom! 

He  inquired  about  them  after  they  had  gone.  Padre  Tomas 
was  one  of  the  saints  of  Granada,  a  model  of  regularity— 

1  wave-like  motion.  *  dainty  eaters. 


THE   LEGEND   OF   THE   ENCHANTED   SOLDIER.  121 

punctual  in  his  hour  of  rising;  his  hour  of  taking  a  paseo ' 
for  an  appetite;  his  hours  of  eating;  his  hour  of  taking  his 
siesta;  a  his  hour  of  playing  his  game  of  tresillo,8  of  an  even 
ing,  with  some  of  the  dames  of  the  cathedral  circle;  his  hour 
of  supping;  and  his  hour  of  retiring  to  rest,  to  gather  fresh 
strength  for  another  day's  round  of  similar  duties.  He  had 
an  easy,  sleek  mule  for  his  riding;  a  matronly  housekeeper, 
skilled  in  preparing  tit-bits  for  his  table;  and  the  pet  lamb, 
to  bring  him  his  chocolate. 

Adieu  now  to  the  gay,  thoughtless  life  of  the  student;  the 
side-glance  of  a  bright  eye  had  been  the  undoing  of  him. 
Day  and  night  he  could  not  get  the  image  of  this  most  mod 
est  damsel  out  of  his  mind.  He  sought  the  mansion  of  the 
padre.  Alas!  it  was  above  the  class  of  houses  accessible  to  a 
strolling  student  like  himself.  The  worthy  padre  had  no 
sympathy  with  him;  he  had  never  been  Estudiante  sopista,* 
obliged  to  sing  for  his  supper.  He  blockaded  the  house 
by  day,  catching  a  glance  of  the  damsel  now  and  then  as  she 
appeared  at  a  casement;  but  these  glances  only  fed  his  flame 
without  encouraging  his  hope.  He  serenaded  her  balcony  at 
night,  and  at  one  time  was  flattered  by  the  appearance  of 
something  white  at  a  window.  Alas,  it  was  only  the  nightcap 
of  the  padre. n 

Never  was  lover  more  devoted ;  never  damsel  more  shy ;  the 
poor  student  was  reduced  to  despair.  At  length  arrived  the  eve 
of  St.  John,  when  the  lower  classes  of  Granada  swarm  into  the 
country,  dance  away  the  afternoon,  and  pass  midsummer's 
night  on  the  banks  of  the  Darro  and  the  Xenil.  Happy  are 
they  who,  on  this  eventful  night,  can  wash  their  faces  in  those 
waters  just  as  the  cathedral  bell  tells  midnight;  for  at  that 
precise  moment  they  have  a  beautifying  power.6  The  student, 
having  nothing  to  do,  suffered  himself  to  be  carried  away  by 
the  holiday-seeking  throng,  until  he  found  himself  in  the 

1  walk.  8  game  of  cards.  6  according  to  the  current  popular  belief 

*  nap.  *  a  singing  student.        in  miraculous  powers. 


122  THE    LEGEND    OF   THE    ENCHANTED    SOLDIEK. 

narrow  valley  of  the  Darro,  below  the  lofty  hill  and  ruddy 
towers  «v£  the  Alhambra.  The  dry  bed  of  the  river,  the  rocks 
which  1  order  it,  the  terraced  gardens  which  overhang  it,  were 
alive  w  th  variegated  l  groups,  dancing  under  the  vines  and 
fig-trees  to  the  sound  of  the  guitar  and  castanets. 

The  student  remained  for  some  time  in  doleful  dumps,  lean 
ing  against  one  of  the  huge  misshapen  stone  pomegranates 
which  adorn  the  ends  of  the  little  bridge  over  the  Darro.  He 
cast  a  wistful  glance  upon  the  merry  scene,  where  every  cava 
lier  had  his  dame;  or,  to  speak  more  appropriately,  every  Jack 
his  Jill;  sighed  at  his  own  solitary  state,  a  victim  to  the  black 
eye  of  the  most  unapproachable  of  damsels,  and  repined  at  his 
ragged  garb,  which  seemed  to  shut  the  gate  of  hope  against  him. 
^  'By  degrees  his  attention  was  attracted  to  a  neighbor  equally 
solitary  with  himself.  This  was  a  tall  soldier,  of  a  stern 
aspect  and  grizzled  beard,  who  seemed  posted  as  a  sentry  at  the 
opposite  pomegranate.  His  face  was  bronzed  by  time;  he  was 
arrayed  in  ancient  Spanish  armor,  with  buckler  and  lance,  and 
stood  immovable  as  a  statue.  What  surprised  the  student 
was,  that  though  thus  strangely  equipped,  he  was  totally 
unnoticed  by  the  passing  throng,  albeit  that  many  almost 
brushed  against  him. 

"This  is  a  city  of  old-time  peculiarities,"  thought  the 
student,  "and  doubtless  this  is  one  of  them  with  which  the 
inhabitants  are  too  familiar  to  be  surprised."  His  own  curi 
osity,  however,  was  awakened;  and,  being  of  a  social  disposi 
tion,  he  accosted  the  soldier. 

"A  rare  old  suit  of  armor  that  which  you  wear,  comrade. 
May  I  ask  what  corps  you  belong  to  ?  " 

The  soldier  gasped  out  a  reply  from  a  pair  of  jaws  which 
seemed  to  have  rusted  on  their  hinges. 

"The  royal  guard  of  Ferdinand  a  and  Isabella." 

"  Santa  Maria!      Why,  it  is  three  centuries  since  that  corps 


i  of  different  colors.      3  Ferdinand  V.  of  Aragon,  1452-1516  ;  married  Isabella,  1469. 


THE   LEGEND   OF  THE   ENCHANTED   SOLDIER.          123 

"  And  for  three  centuries  have  I  been  mounting  guard. 
Now  I  trust  my  tour  of  duty  draws  to  a  close.  Dost  thou 
desire  fortune?  " 

The  student  held  up  his  tattered  cloak  in  reply. 

"  I  understand  thee.  If  thou  hast  faith  and  courage,  fol 
low  me,  and  thy  fortune  is  made." 

"  Softly,  comrade.  To  follow  thee  would  require  small  cour 
age  in  one  who  has  nothing  to  lose  but  life  and  an  old  guitar, 
neither  of  much  value;  but  my  faith  is  of  a  different  matter, 
and  not  to  be  put  in  temptation.  If  it  be  any  criminal  act 
by  which  I  am  to  mend  my  fortune,  think  not  my  ragged 
cloak  will  make  me  undertake  it." 

The  soldier  turned  on  him  a  look  of  high  displeasure.  "  My 
sword,"  said  he,  "has  never  been  drawn  but  in  the  cause  of 
the  faith  and  the  throne.  I  am  a  Cristiano  viejo;  1  trust  in 
me  and  fear  no  evil." 

The  student  followed  him,  wondering.  He  observed  that  no 
one  heeded  their  conversation,  and  that  the  soldier  made  his 
way  through  the  various  groups  of  idlers  unnoticed,  as  if 
invisible. 

Crossing  the  bridge,  the  soldier  led  the  way  by  a  narrow  and 
steep  path  past  a  Moorish  mill  and  aqueduct,  and  up  the 
ravine  which  separates  the  domains  of  the  Generalife  from 
those  of  the  Alhambra.  The  last  ray  of  the  sun  shone  upon 
the  red  battlements  of  the  latter,  which  beetled  far  above;  and 
the  convent  bells  were  proclaiming  the  festival  of  the  ensuing 
day.  The  ravine  was  overshadowed  by  fig-trees,  vines,  and 
myrtles,  and  the  outer  towers  and  walls  of  the  fortress.  It 
was  dark  and  lonely,  and  the  twilight-loving  bats  began  to  flit 
about.  At  length  the  soldier  halted  at  a  remote  and  ruined 
tower,  apparently  intended  to  guard  a  Moorish  aqueduct.  He 
struck  the  foundation  with  the  butt-end  of  his  spear.  A 
rumbling  sound  was  heard,  and  the  solid  stones  yawned  apart, 
leaving  an  opening  as  wide  as  a  door. 

» old  Christian. 


124  THE   LEGEND   OF  THE   ENCHANTED   SOLDIER. 

"Enter  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity,"  said  the  soldier, 
"and  fear  nothing."  The  student's  heart  quaked,  but  he 
made  the  sign  of  the  cross,  muttered  his  Ave  Maria,  and  fol 
lowed  his  mysterious  guide  into  a  deep  vault  cut  out  of  the 
solid  rock  under  the  tower,  and  covered  with  Arabic  inscrip 
tions.  The  soldier  pointed  to  a  stone  seat  hewn  along  one 
side  of  the  vault.  "Behold,"  said  he,  "my  couch  for  three 
hundred  years."  The  bewildered  student  tried  to  force 
a  joke.  "  By  the  blessed  St.  Anthony,"  said  he,  "but  you 
must  have  slept  soundly,  'considering  the  hardness  of  your 
couch." 

"  On  the  contrary,  sleep  has  been  a  stranger  to  these  eyes; 
incessant  watchfulness  has  been  my  doom.  Listen  to  my  lot. 
I  was  one  of  the  royal  guards  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  but 
was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Moors  in  one  of  their  sorties,  and 
confined  a  captive  in  this  tower.  When  preparations  were 
made  to  surrender  the  fortress  to  the  Christian  sovereigns,  I 
was  prevailed  upon  by  an  alfaqui,  a  Moorish  priest,  to  aid  him 
in  secreting  some  of  the  treasures  of  Boabdil  in  this  vault.  I 
was  justly  punished  for  my  fault.  The  alfaqui  was  an  Afri 
can  necromancer,1  and  by  his  infernal  arts  cast  a  spell  upon 
me,  to  guard  his  treasures.  Something  must  have  happened 
to  him,  for  he  never  returned,  and  here  I  have  remained  ever 
since,  buried  alive.  Years  and  years  have  rolled  away;  earth 
quakes  have  shaken  this  hill;  I  have  heard  stone  by  stone  of 
the  tower  above  tumbling  to  the  ground,  in  the  natural  opera 
tion  of  time;  but  the  spellbound  walls  of  this  vault  set  both 
time  and  earthquakes  at  defiance. 

y  >*~0nce  every  hundred  years,  on  the  festival  of  St.  John,  the 
enchantment  ceases  to  have  thorough  sway.  I  am  permitted  to 
go  forth  and  post  myself  upon  the  bridge  of  the  Darro,  where 
you  met  me,  waiting  until  some  one  shall  arrive  who  may 
have  power  to  break  this  magic  spell.  I  have  hitherto 
mounted  guard  there  in  vain.  I  walk  as  in  a  cloud,  concealed 

1  sorcerer ;  wizard. 


THE   LEGEND  OF   THE   ENCHANTED   SOLDIER.          125 

from  mortal  sight.  You  are  the  first  to  accost  me  for  now 
three  hundred  years.  I  behold  the  reason.  I  see  on  your 
linger  the  seal  ring  of  Solomon  the  wise,  which  is  proof 
against  all  enchantment.  With  you  it  remains  to  deliver  me 
from  this  awful  dungeon,  or  to  leave  me  to  keep  guard  here  for 
another  hundred  years." 

The  student  listened  to  this  tale  in  mute  wonderment.  He 
had  heard  many  tales  of  treasure  shut  up  under  strong  enchant 
ment  in  the  vaults  of  the  Alhambra,  but  had  treated  them 
as  fables.  He  now  felt  the  value  of  the  seal  ring,  which  had, 
in  a  manner,  been  given  to  him  by  St.  Cyprian.  Still,  though 
armed  by  so  potent  a  talisman,  it  was  an  awful  thing  to  find 
himself  tete-a-tete '  in  such  a  place  with  an  enchanted  soldier, 
who,  according  to  the  laws  of  nature,  ought  to  have  been 
quietly  in  his  grave  for  nearly  three  centuries. 

A  personage  of  this  kind,  however,  was  quite  out  of  the 
ordinary  run,  and  not  to  be  trifled  with,  and  he  assured  him 
he  might  rely  upon  his  friendship  and  good  will  to  do  every 
thing  in  his  power  for  his  deliverance. 

"  I  trust  to  a  motive  more  powerful  than  friendship,"  said 
the  soldier. 

He  pointed  to  a  ponderous*  iron  coffer,  secured  by  locks 
inscribed  with  Arabic  characters.  "That  coffer,"  said  he, 
'''contains  countless  treasure  in  gold  and  jewels  and  precious 
stones.  Break  the  magic  spell  by  which  I  am  enthralled,  and 
one  half  of  this  treasure  shall  be  thine." 

"But  how  am  I  to  do  it?" 

"The  aid  of  a  Christian  priest  and  a  Christian  maid  is 
necessary;  the  priest  to  exorcise  3  the  powers  of  darkness, 
the  damsel  to  touch  this  chest  with  the  seal  of  Solomon. 
This  must  be  done  at  night.  But  have  a  care.  This  is 
solemn  work,  and  not  to  be  effected  by  the  carnal-minded. 
The  priest  must  be  a  Crist iano  viejo,  a  model  of  sanctity;  and 
must  mortify  the  flesh,  before  he  comes  here,  by  a  rigorous 

I.(tayt-ah-tayt),  face  to  face.  a heavy.  s  to  drive  out. 


126          THE  LEGEND  OF  THE   ENCHANTED  SOLDIER. 

fast  of  four-and-twenty  hours;  and  as  to  the  maiden,  she  must 
be  above  reproach,  and  proof  against  temptation.  Linger  not 
in  finding  such  aid.  In  three  days  my  furlough  is  at  an  end; 
if  not  delivered  before  midnight  of  the  third,  I  shall  have  to 
mount  guard  for  another  century. ' ' 

x"  Fear  not,"  said  the  student;  "  I  have  in  my  eye  the  very 
priest  and  damsel  you  describe ;  but  how  am  I  to  regain  admis 
sion  to  this  tower  ?  ' ' 

"  The  seal  of  Solomon  will  open  the  way  for  thee." 

The  student  issued  forth  from  the  tower  much  more  gayly 
than  he  had  entered.  The  wall  closed  behind  him,  and 
remained  solid  as  before. 

The  next  morning  he  repaired  boldly  to  the  mansion  of  the 
priest,  no  longer  a  poor,  strolling  student,  thrumminj^his  w^y 
with  a  guitar;  but  an  ambassador  from  the  shactowy  world, 
with  enchanted  treasures  to  bestow.  No  particulars  are  told 
of  his  negotiation/  excepting  that  the  zeal  of  the  worthy 
priest  was  easily  kindled  at  the  idea  of  rescuing  an  old  soldier 
of  the  faith,  and  a  strong-box  of  King  Chico,  from  the  very 
clutches  of  Satan;  and  then  what  alms  might  be  dispensed, 
what  churches  built,  and  how  many  poor  relatives  enriched 
with  the  Moorish  treasure! 

As  to  the  immaculate  handmaid,  she  was  ready  to  lend  her 
hand,  which  was  all  that  was  required,  to  the  pious  work;  and 
if  a  shy  glance  now  and  then  might  be  believed,  the  ambassa 
dor  began  to  find  favor  in  her  modest  eyes. 

The  greatest  difficulty,  however,  was  the  fast  to  which  the 
good  padre  had  to  subject  himself.  Twice  he  attempted  it,  and 
twice  the  flesh  was  too  strong  for  the  spirit.  It  was  only  on 
the  third  day  that  he  was  enabled  to  withstand  the  temptations 
of  the  cupboard  ;  but  it  was  still  a  question  whether  he 
would  hold  out  until  the  spell  was  broken. 

At  a  late  hour  of  the  night  the  party  groped  their  way  up 
the  ravine,  by  the  light  of  a  lantern,  and  bearing  a  basket  with 

1  bargaining  what  conditions  should  be  agreed  on. 


THE   LEGEND   OF  THE   ENCHANTED   SOLDIER.          127 

provisions  for  exorcising  the  demon  of  hunger  so  soon  as  the 
other  demons  should  be  laid  in  the  Red  Sea.1 

The  seal  of  Solomon  opened  their  way  into  the  tower.  They 
found  the  soldier  seated  on  the  enchanted  strong-box,  awaiting 
their  arrival.  The  exorcism  was  performed  in  due  style.  The 
damsel  advanced,  and  touched  the  locks  of  the  coffer  with  the 
seal  of  Solomon.  The  lid  flew  open,  and  such  treasures  of 
gold  and  jewels  and  precious  stones  as  flashed  upon  the  eye! 

''Here's  cut,  and  come  again!"  cried  the  student,  exult- 
ingly,  as  he  proceeded  to  cram  his  pockets. 

"Fairly  and  softly,"  exclaimed  the  soldier.  "  Let  us  get 
the  coffer  out  entire,  and  then  divide." 

They  accordingly  went  to  work  with  might  and  main,  but 
it  was  a  difficult  task;  the  chest  was  enormously  heavy,  and 
had  been  embedded  there  for  centuries.  While  they  were  thus 
employed,  the  good  dominie  drew  on  one  side,  and  made  a  vig 
orous  onslaught  on  the  basket,  by  way  of  exorcising  the  demon 
of  hunger  which  was  raging  in  his  entrails.  In  a  little 
while  a  fat  capon 2  was  devoured,  and  washed  down  by  a  deep 
potation;  3  and,  by  way  of  grace  after  meat,  he  gave  a  kind- 
hearted  kiss  to  the  pet  lamb  who  waited  on  him.  It  was 
quietly  done  in  a  corner,  but  the  tell-tale  walls  babbled  it  forth 
as  if  in  triumph.  Never  was  chaste  salute  more  awful  in  its 
effects.  At  the  sound  the  soldier  gave  a  great  cry  of  despair; 
the  coffer,  which  was  half  raised,  fell  back  in  its  place  and 
was  locked  once  more.  Priest,  student,  and  damsel  found 
themselves  outside  of  the  tower,  the  wall  of  which  closed 
with  a  thundering  jar.  Alas!  the  good  padre  had  broken 
his  fast  too  soon. 

When  recovered  from  his  surprise,  the  student  would  have 
reentered  the  tower,  but  learnt  to  his  dismay  that  the  damsel, 
in  her  fright,  had  let  fall  the  seal  of  Solomon;  it  remained 
within  the  vault. 

In  a  word,  the  cathedral  bell   tolled  midnight;    the  spell 

1  between  Egypt  and  Arabia.  '  chicken.  »  drink. 


128          THE   LEGEND   OF  THE   ElsCiiSfcTED  SOLDIER, 


was  renewed;  the  soldier  was  doomed  to  mount  guard  for 
another  hundred  years;  and  there  he  and  the  treasure  remain 
to  this  day,  and  all  because  the  kind-hearted  padre  kissed  his 
handmaid. 

Thus  ends  the  legend  as  far  as  it  has  been  authenticated.1 
There  is  a  tradition,  however,  that  the  student  had  brought 
off  treasure  enough  in  his  pocket  to  set  him  up  in  the  world  ; 
that  he  prospered  in  his  affairs,  that  the  worthy  padre  gave 
him  the  pet  lamb  in  marriage,  by  way  of  amends  for  the  blun 
der  in  the  vault;  that  the  immaculate  damsel  proved  a  pattern 
for  wives  as  she  had  been  for  handmaids. 

The  story  of  the  enchanted  soldier  remains  one  of  the  pop 
ular  traditions  of  Granada,  though  told  in  a  variety  of  ways; 
the  common  people  affirm  that  he  still  mounts  guard  on  mid 
summer-eve,  beside  the  gigantic  stone  pomegranate  on  the 
bridge  of  the  Darro,  but  remains  invisible  excepting  to  such 
lucky  mortal  as  may  possess  the  seal  of  Solomon. 

/ 

1  established  by  proof. 


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